The NFL is the most popular professional sports league in the United States. Many people have dreams of playing in the NFL and becoming professional athletes.
Use this article to get good leads on names or players who have made it big as rookies. While it may seem like most of the attention and notoriety is focused on the veteran players, there are plenty of young stars in this league.
Read on as this list explores the 10 youngest current NFL players who have undoubtedly made their mark in their careers.
10. Kyle Hamilton (March 16, 2001 – present)
Current Age (as of March 2023): 21 years, 11 months, 18 days
Team: Ravens
Position: Safety
Height: 6 ft. 4 in.
photo source: NBC Sports
Kyle Hamilton was born in Greece when his father, Derrick Hamilton, was a European league basketball player. Before being selected by the Ravens in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Hamilton played collegiate football at Notre Dame and was voted a unanimous All-American in 2021.
Hamilton was a football player at the Marist School in Brookhaven, Georgia, where he also served as a wide receiver.
He committed to play collegiate football at Notre Dame. Hamilton had 41 tackles, four interceptions, and a score in 13 games as a freshman for whom he made one start. As a sophomore in 2020, Hamilton took over as the starter and finished with 63 tackles, six pass breakups, and an interception to earn first-team All-ACC honors.
9. Jameson Williams (March 26, 2001 – present)
Current Age (as of March 2023): 21 years, 11 months, 8 days
Team: Lions
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6 ft. 1 in.
photo source: Buckeyes Wire
Before switching to Alabama in 2021, Jameson Williams played collegiate football for Ohio State. In the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, on the one hand, the Lions selected Williams. Before that, however, he did play football for Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School when he was there.
Williams caught 36 catches for 1,062 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior while scoring on three kickoff returns.
After concluding his senior year with 68 catches for 1,626 yards and 22 touchdowns, he was awarded an Under Armour All-American. Williams competed on the track for Cardinal Ritter, where he established a state record while winning back-to-back Class 3 state championships in the 300-meter hurdles.
Did You Know?
Jameson Williams committed to playing football for Ohio State and was ranked four-star.
8. George Karlaftis (April 3, 2001 – present)
Current Age (as of March 2023): 21 years, 11 months
Team: Chiefs
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6 ft. 4 in.
photo source: Arrowhead Pride
George Karlaftis is a professional American defensive end for the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs. He is Greek-born (NFL). He was raised as a multi-sport athlete, participating in basketball, football, and track and field. He was born in Athens. When Karlaftis was 13 years old, his family emigrated to America.
Before being selected by the Chiefs in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he played college football at Purdue, where he earned All-Big Ten accolades. Karlaftis started each of Purdue’s 12 games as a true freshman in 2019, compiling 54 tackles and 7.5 sacks. Due to a positive COVID-19 test, he only participated in three games as a sophomore in 2020, concluding the season with four tackles and two sacks.
Did You Know?
Before becoming a pro football player, George Karlaftis was part of Greece’s men’s national water polo team.
7. Tyler Smith (April 3, 2001 – present)
Current Age (as of March 2023): 21 years, 11 months
Team: Cowboys
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6 ft. 6 in.
photo source: Dallas Morning News
American football offensive tackle Tyler Smith plays for the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys (NFL). He attended Tulsa for his collegiate football career, and the Cowboys picked him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Before that, Smith attended North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He made his original commitment to play collegiate football at Abilene Christian as a three-star prospect.
Despite receiving offers from Houston, the Navy, and New Mexico, Smith reneged on his commitment and chose to play for Tulsa. As a redshirt sophomore, he started each of the 12 games for the Golden Hurricane and earned second-team All-AAC honors. He declared that he will renounce his remaining collegiate eligibility and declare for the 2022 NFL Draft once the season ended.
Did You Know?
Smith played in the final four games with two starts as a true freshman while redshirting the 2019 campaign.
6. Breece Hall (May 31, 2001 – present)
Current Age (as of March 2023): 21 years, 9 months, 3 days
Team: Jets
Position: Running Back
Height: 5 ft. 11 in.
photo source: New York Jets
American football running back Breece Hall plays for the National Football League’s New York Jets (NFL). He played college football at Iowa State, winning the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and being a two-time All-American.
In the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Jets selected Hall. Hall attended Wichita Northwest High School while growing up in Wichita, Kansas.
Following a junior season in which he rushed for 2,082 yards and scored 36 touchdowns, Hall was nominated to the first teams in the Metro and State leagues. Hall was again selected to the first-team All-State and was awarded the Wichita Metro Player of the Year as a senior after rushing for 2,127 yards and 29 touchdowns. In Week 1 of the 2022 season, Hall faced the Baltimore Ravens in his NFL debut.
Did You Know?
Hall won the FedEx Ground Player and Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week awards for his effort in Week 6 versus Green Bay, which included 20 carries for 116 yards, two receptions for 5 yards, and a running score.
5. Derek Stingley Jr. (June 20, 2001 – present)
Current Age (as of March 2023): 21 years, 8 months, 13 days
Team: Texans
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6 ft. 0 in.
photo source: Houston Chronicle
Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. plays for the Houston Texans in American football. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Texans took him third overall after he played collegiate football for LSU. Stingley Jr. went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s Dunham School. During his time in high school, he recorded 27 interceptions. He was honored by the Louisiana Gatorade Football Player of the Year as a senior.
As the best player overall in his class, Stingley Jr. was regarded as a five-star recruit. He committed to play collegiate football at Louisiana State University (LSU). Together with Steven Nelson, he started the season as a cornerback. He made his first career interception in Week 5’s matchup with the Jaguars.
Did You Know
Derek Stingley Jr. concluded the season with 43 tackles, five passes defended, and one interception through nine games.
4. Drake London (July 24, 2001 – present)
Current Age (as of March 2023): 21 years, 5 months
Team: Falcons
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6 ft. 4 in.
photo source: Marca
The Falcons took Drake London in the eighth round of the 2022 NFL Draft while playing college football at USC. London studied at California’s Moorpark High School. In high school, he participated in basketball and football.
As a senior football player, he collected 62 receptions for 1,089 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had a 29.2 point, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game average as a senior in basketball.
London committed to football and basketball at the University of Southern California (USC). Football rookie London started nine of his 13 games, hauling 39 passes for 567 yards and five scores. London injured his right ankle during Southern Cal’s eighth game of the 2021 campaign, requiring him to miss the remainder of the year.
3. Isaiah Spiller (August 9, 2001 – present)
Current Age (as of March 2023): 21 years, 6 months, 25 days
Team: Chargers
Position: Running back
Height: 6 ft. 1 in.
photo source: Bols From The Blue
Isaiah Spiller plays running back in American football for the Los Angeles Chargers. Spiller went to Spring, Texas’ Klein Collins High School. He amassed 3,587 yards from scrimmage and 53 touchdowns throughout the course of his career.
Spiller took part in the Under Armour All-America Game in 2019. He agreed to play collegiate football for Texas A&M University. Spiller started nine of the 13 games as a true freshman at Texas A&M in 2019.
He rushed for 946 yards on 174 attempts and scored 10 touchdowns, earning him the title of Freshman All-SEC. Spiller was awarded all-SEC member in 2020 after rushing 188 times for 1,036 yards and nine touchdowns.
On December 14, 2021, following a season in which he rushed 179 times for 1,011 yards and six touchdowns, Spiller declared for the 2022 NFL Draft and withdrew from the 2021 Gator Bowl.
Did You Know?
Spiller honors veteran NFL running back C.J. by donning the number 28. Spiller, who spent eight seasons playing for five different teams, would frequently watch C.J.’s highlights and see himself in the NFL, despite the two unrelated.
2. Cordale Flott (August 24, 2001 – present)
Current Age (as of March 2023): 21 years, 6 months, 10 days
Team: Giants
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6 ft. 1 in.
photo source: Giants.com
Cornerback Cordale Flott plays for the New York Giants. In Saraland, Alabama, where he was raised, Flott went to Saraland High School. He made his first commitment to play collegiate football at Auburn as a three-star prospect. Later, Flott changed his mind and decided to play at LSU.
Flott contributed 15 tackles and four passes defended as LSU won the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship while playing in 14 of the Tigers’ games, with one start as a freshman. Flott made 11 starts in games as a junior and finished with 41 tackles, four passes defended, and one interception. He forfeited his remaining collegiate eligibility and declared for the 2022 NFL Draft after the season.
Did You Know?
In the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Flott as the 81st overall choice.
1. Nick Cross (September 10, 2001 – present)
Current Age (as of March 2023): 21 years, 5 months, 23 days
Team: Colts
Position: Safety
Height: 6 ft. 0 in.
photo source: Twitter
The Indianapolis Colts’ Nicolas “Nick” Cross, a safety, is the league’s youngest player currently in the NFL. Cross, the son of Michael and Anna Cross, was born on September 10, 2001. His mother is from Trinidad and Tobago, while his father, Michael, is from Jamaica.
He had early schooling at the St. Jerome Academy in Hyattsville, Maryland. Cross later attended DeMatha Catholic High School. In 2019, he participated in the Army All-American Bowl.
Cross received a four-star recruit rating. He changed his mind after making a college football commitment to the University of Maryland, College Park, from Florida State University. While attending DeMatha Catholic, Cross also competed in track.
He participated in the 60, 100, 200, 4×100, and 4×200-meter relays. His personal best time in the 60M is 6.68 seconds. Chigoziem Okonkwo, a former teammate of Cross’, also participated in the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine.
Did You Know?
Nick Cross ran the 40-yard sprint in 4.34 seconds, which was the quickest time among the safeties.
