The top 25 NFL players under the age of 25

19. QB Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns

He would finally take the field late in the first half on a Thursday night at home against the New York Jets. The Cleveland Browns were in the midst of a stretch in which they had gone winless in 19 consecutive games dating back to Week 17 of 2016 (0-18-1). And they trailed the visiting Jets, 14-0, late in the second quarter.

Enter rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, with 1:42 to play before intermission. He would finish with 201 yards through the air, hitting on 17-of-23 throws, and the team would rally for a 17-14 win. And Tyrod Taylor’s short-lived stint as Cleveland’s starting quarterback was over.

When it was all said and done, the Browns would wind up splitting their final 14 games after a 0-1-1 start. More significantly, the team was 5-2 in their last seven outings – losing only to the eventual-division champion Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens. There’s still a lot of work to be done, especially on the defensive side of the football. As for Mayfield (who turned 24 years old in April), he’s understandably still a work in progress. He finished the season with an NFL rookie record 27 touchdown passes. But there were also 14 interceptions and three lost fumbles.

The 2017 Heisman Trophy winner spearheads general manager John Dorsey’s superb 2018 draft class, which includes the aforementioned cornerback Denzel Ward and running back Nick Chubb. It all adds up to the Browns being a young and talented team – with Mayfield leading the way.

Next: No. 18