5 Players I Love Going Into The 2025 NFL Season

When every NFL season begins, a new cast of characters start to make names for themselves across the league, and 2025 will be no different.

In this piece, I will be identifying a group of young players who I think in 2025 are ready to either take that next step or at least begin to show real signs of greatness. Whether they are a first-round quarterback or newly drafted skill player, each player has some unique quality that makes me want to believe in them. Let's look at five players I can't wait to watch this upcoming season. 

Drake Maye, Quarterback, New England Patriots

Despite being in one of the worst situations I have ever seen a rookie quarterback enter in terms of the coaching and talent around him, Drake Maye showed on many occasions how special he can be. His ability to move in and out of the pocket was on full display, along with his strong arm talent, and his competitive spirit stood out in the chaos. Now with a coaching staff featuring Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels, New England has the potential to be one of the most improved teams in all of football next season, and while the coaching upgrades will do wonders for the franchise in general, don't be surprised if Maye takes a superstar leap in 2025 with the improvements everywhere around him.

Michael Penix Jr., Quarterback, Atlanta Falcons

Just because I am shorting the Atlanta Falcons franchise in general going into this season doesn't mean that I don't love Michael Penix Jr. as a player. Penix has the potential to be perhaps the best pure pocket passer in all of football with his accuracy and touch. To their credit, the Falcons have put some great talent around him in running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London, which will no doubt help make Penix's life easier as he eases into his first full season as the starter in Atlanta. While I am not sure if the Falcons will be a playoff team this year, I expect them to be in a lot of shootouts and Penix to have multiple big games this fall.

Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Despite not having the same draft buzz as his former Ohio State teammate Marvin Harrison Jr. had going into his draft, Egbuka was one of the better route runners in all of college football last season. If the Buccaneers can do anything, it's develop young wide receivers. Egbuka has a real opportunity to make an impact right away in a pass-heavy Buccaneers offense alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. While he may go through some rookie struggles to begin the year, I think by the end of the season, Baker Mayfield will build a real trust with him and he will be featured heavily in the offense. 

Jayden Higgins, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans

Outside of Nico Collins, the Texans' receiving corps does leave a lot to be desired. Luckily for them, I think second-round pick Jayden Higgins could come in and make a real impact right away for Houston. At 6'4 and 215 pounds, Higgins's big frame should allow him to be a real red zone at the very least for C.J. Stroud. In a receiving room that needs to find playmakers to complement Stroud and Collins, look for Higgins to be heavily involved as the season moves along.

TreVeyon Henderson, Running Back, New England Patriots

Earlier in the offseason, I wrote about how I think Henderson could be a dark horse pick to win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, and I still stand by that opinion. Henderson brings juice to a Patriots offense that desperately needs it, and we all know how much Mike Vrabel will want to run the football. If he comes out of the gate strong, I expect Henderson to steal the starting job from Rhamondre Stevenson fairly quickly and establish himself as the RB1 in New England fairly quickly.