How Many Cowboys on ‘Top 25 Players 25 and Under’ List?

Three Dallas Cowboys checked in on a new countdown of the best young talent the NFL has to offer.

According to a new countdown, the Dallas Cowboys employ three of the best young players that the NFL has to offer.  

CBS Sports recently ranked the top 25 players age 25 or younger in the NFL, and three Cowboys checked in on the list. Cornerback Trevon Diggs was the lowest-rated among the trio, coming in at No. 13, with receiver CeeDee Lamb next at No. 10 and linebacker Micah Parsons at No. 4. While the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals each had two representatives, the Cowboys were the only team who had three players ranked on the list. 

What's perhaps most exciting for the Cowboys is that Diggs, Lamb and Parsons are all 24, meaning they will still be eligible a year from now to be ranked when some of the top names on the list -- quarterback Jalen Hurts of the Eagles and defensive end Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers, just to name a couple -- will have graduated. 

The top name on the countdown was Minnesota Vikings' wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who has hauled in 324 passes for 4,825 yards in his first three NFL seasons. Given the staggering production that the 24-year-old has put up to begin his career, it's unlikely he'll vacate the No. 1 overall spot next year. 

With that said, if for whatever reason Jefferson struggles in 2023, Parsons would probably be next in line for the top spot. The former first-round pick has 149 combined tackles, 26.5 sacks and six forced fumbles to show for his first two seasons in the NFL. Parsons was the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and has been a First-Team All-Pro in each of his first two NFL campaigns. 

What is worth pointing out, though, is that Diggs can become a free agent after this season. Lamb's fifth-year option has been exercised, but even though he's now tied to the team through 2024, one would think the two sides would like to reach a long-term extension sooner rather than later. Parsons' fifth-year option will certainly be exercised after the 2023 season, and as things stand now, his eventual long-term contract will probably be the most lucrative. So it may prove to be a tricky proposition to keep all three beyond their rookie deals. 

You can follow Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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