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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JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 02: Indianapolis Colts Offensive Guard Quenton Nelson (56) lines up for a play during the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 2, 2018 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. G Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts

In 2018, the Indianapolis Colts used the sixth overall pick in on a talented guard from the University of Notre Dame. And Quenton Nelson became the highest-draft player at his position since the Denver Broncos selected Chris Hinton with the fourth overall pick in 1983. And it goes without saying that general manager Chris Ballard struck gold with the former Golden Domer. He not only earn a Pro Bowl honors and All-Pro accolades as a rookie, the 6-foot-5, 330-pound blocker helped change the mentality of an Indianapolis’ offensive front that was deemed a weakness for too many years.

This past season, only New England’s Shag Mason and Dallas’ Zack Martin earned higher grades at guard from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) than Nelson. Once head coach Frank Reich’s offensive front began to gel, the team became very balanced offensively as the running game opened up things for quarterback Andrew Luck. And a team that had allowed a league-high 56 sacks in 2017 surrendered an NFL-low 18 quarterback traps this past season.

One of the biggest reasons that there is some much optimism surrounding this Colts’ team is the fact that Ballard has built this team wisely through the draft and stressed adding talent in the trenches. Nelson and fellow 2018 draft classmate Braden Smith (the team’s starting right tackle) are part of a unit that now looks like a team strength rather than a shortcoming.

Next: No. 2

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