The top 25 NFL players under the age of 25

KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 20: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs grimaces after being hit during the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

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BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 30, 2018: Defensive end Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns rushes the line of scrimmage in the third quarter of a game against the Baltimore Ravens on December 30, 2018 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore won 26-24. (Photo by: 2018 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

14. DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

For nearly two decades, the Cleveland Browns have got a lot of swinging and missing when it comes to their draft choices – in particular their first-round selections. There have been some notable exceptions over the years such as 10-time Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas (2007) and cornerback Joe Haden (2010), to name a few. But the mistakes have far outweighed the success stories.

As was the case in 2018, when the franchise owned the first overall pick to select quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Browns also had the number-one choice the previous year. All told, 2017 would result in a 0-16 season. But one bright spot was rookie defensive end Myles Garrett, taken with that aforementioned top overall pick. He would play in only 11 games and make nine starts, but he would finish with 31 tackles and a respectable seven sacks.

Garrett would be a 16-game starter in his second season and earn an invitation to the Pro Bowl. There were 44 stops, 13.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. The 23-year-old edge performer was a big reason the Browns were among the league leaders in takeaways.

So what kind of year could the former Texas A&M standout be in store for in 2019? General manager John Dorsey added free-agent defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and traded for pass-rusher Olivier Vernon. Along with interior defender Larry Ogunjobi, Cleveland now has quite the front four. Could Garrett surpass last season’s sack total?

Next: No. 13

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