Who is the best NFL player born in 1997?

MVP trophies and Super Bowl rings sit beside quieter résumés earned in the trenches, and this cohort is still adding chapters.

1. 1
   Lamar Jackson

   Baltimore Ravens quarterback who won the NFL MVP award unanimously in 2019 and won it again in 2023.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Saquon Barkley

   Running back who was 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Giants, then rushed for 2,005 yards and won Super Bowl LIX with the Eagles in the 2024 season.
   877pts
3. 3
   Alex Highsmith

   Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher, a 2020 third-round pick, who recorded 14.5 sacks in 2022.
   746pts
4. 4
   Nick Bosa

   San Francisco 49ers defensive end who was 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year and 2022 Defensive Player of the Year with 18.5 sacks.
   653pts
5. 5
   Tony Pollard

   Running back who made the Pro Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 after a 1,007-yard rushing season.
   583pts
6. 6
   Sam Darnold

   Quarterback drafted third overall by the Jets in 2018 who made the Pro Bowl after leading the 2024 Vikings to 14 wins.
   570pts
7. 7
   Roquan Smith

   Linebacker drafted eighth overall by the Bears in 2018 who was named first-team All-Pro with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023.
   521pts
8. 8
   Denzel Ward

   Cleveland Browns cornerback drafted fourth overall in 2018 who became a multiple-time Pro Bowl selection.
   521pts
9. 9
   DK Metcalf

   Wide receiver who spent his first six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, including a 1,303-yard season in 2020.
   521pts
10. 10
    Josh Sweat

    Edge rusher who made the 2021 Pro Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles and had 2.5 sacks in Super Bowl LIX.
    521pts
11. 11
    Jessie Bates III

    Safety who started for the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI and made the Pro Bowl in his first season with Atlanta in 2023.
    466pts
12. 12
    Jaire Alexander

    Cornerback drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round in 2018 who made the Pro Bowl in 2020 and 2022.
    466pts
13. 13
    Maxx Crosby

    Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher, a 2019 fourth-round pick, who became a multiple-time Pro Bowl selection.
    466pts
14. 14
    L'Jarius Sneed

    Cornerback drafted by Kansas City in the fourth round in 2020 who won Super Bowls LVII and LVIII with the Chiefs.
    466pts
15. 15
    Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

    Defensive back who tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions for the Eagles in 2022 and won Super Bowl LIX with them.
    466pts
16. 16
    Quinnen Williams

    Defensive tackle drafted third overall by the New York Jets in 2019 who was named first-team All-Pro in 2022.
    404pts
17. 17
    Michael Pittman Jr.

    Wide receiver drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 2020 who caught 109 passes for 1,152 yards for them in 2023.
    404pts
18. 18
    Daron Payne

    Washington defensive tackle drafted in the first round in 2018 who recorded 11.5 sacks in 2022.
    333pts
19. 19
    Jeffery Simmons

    Defensive tackle drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the first round in 2019 who became a multiple-time Pro Bowl selection.
    333pts
20. 20
    Kyler Murray

    Quarterback who won the 2018 Heisman Trophy, went first overall to Arizona in the 2019 draft and was 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
    333pts
21. 21
    Daniel Jones

    Quarterback drafted sixth overall by the Giants in 2019 who led them to a playoff win over Minnesota in the 2022 season.
    333pts
22. 22
    Justin Reid

    Safety who began with the Houston Texans and won Super Bowls LVII and LVIII with the Kansas City Chiefs.
    333pts
23. 23
    Dexter Lawrence

    Nose tackle and 2019 first-round pick who spent his first seven seasons with the New York Giants and earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2022 and 2023.
    251pts
24. 24
    Josh Hines-Allen

    Jacksonville Jaguars edge rusher drafted seventh overall in 2019 who set the franchise single-season record with 17.5 sacks in 2023.
    251pts
25. 25
    Ed Oliver

    Buffalo Bills defensive tackle drafted ninth overall in 2019 out of Houston.
    251pts
26. 26
    David Montgomery

    Running back who began with the Bears in 2019 and scored 13 rushing touchdowns in his first season with the Detroit Lions in 2023.
    251pts
27. 27
    Jordan Mailata

    Australian former rugby league player who became the Philadelphia Eagles' starting left tackle and won Super Bowl LIX.
    155pts
28. 28
    A. J. Brown

    Wide receiver drafted by the Titans in 2019 who had 1,496 receiving yards for the Eagles in 2022 and won Super Bowl LIX.
    155pts
29. 29
    Chris Lindstrom

    Atlanta Falcons guard drafted in the first round in 2019 who was named second-team All-Pro four straight times from 2022 to 2025.
    155pts
30. 30
    DJ Moore

    Wide receiver who posted three straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Panthers and 1,364 yards in his first year with the Bears in 2023.
    155pts
31. 31
    Deonte Harty

    Undrafted New Orleans Saints return specialist who made the Pro Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro as a rookie in 2019.
    0pts

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