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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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 12: Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Leighton Vander Esch #55 warms up before playing the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

23. OLB Leighton Vander Esch, Dallas Cowboys

Via Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram it was recently mentioned that one-time starting middle linebacker Sean Lee (limited to seven games in 2018) would be taking over on the left side for a Dallas Cowboys’ defensive unit that finished seventh in the league in fewest total yards allowed per game in 2018. That gives Rod Marinelli’s unit a great mix of youth and a solid veteran when it comes to his starting linebacking corps.

And that’s because the defending NFC East champions have quite a 1-2 punch when it comes to the other spots in rangy middle man Jaylon Smith and 2018 first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch. The 19th-overall selection a year ago played in all 16 contests and wound up making 11 regular-season starts. He led the club with an imposing 138 tackles, to go along with a pair of interceptions and seven passes defensed.

Vander Esch was also found on special teams, notching a pair of assists. The 23-year old pro added a combined 14 tackles in the postseason split with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams.

Including playoffs, the Cowboys won eight of their final 10 contests after a 3-5 start. More times than not, it was the defense that proved to be the difference down the stretch. Vander Esch and Smith make up arguably the best young linebacker duo in the league. Let the discussion begin.

Next: No. 22

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