2 Rams stars land on list of NFL's 25 best players 25 and under

There's a continuing conversation regarding how long Matthew Stafford will play and for the Los Angeles Rams, keeping their QB1 successful is the key to maintaining his happiness. In order to maintain the success of their top gunslinger, they must surround him with young talent.

The Rams have done so through bold trades and smart drafting. That couldn't be made more evident than with CBS Sports' list of the NFL's top 25 players who are 25 and younger. Writer Tyler Sullivan named Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie and receiver Puka Nacua to the list.

McDuffie was ranked 20th, as the Super Bowl champion and All-Pro was acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs via trade this offseason.

Trent McDuffie barely qualified for this list, as he turns 26 on Sept. 13. That said, he's now the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history after the Rams signed him to a four-year, $124 million extension following his trade from the Chiefs in March.

McDuffie is a heat-seeking missile, as his 31 quarterback pressures and eight forced fumbles are both the most by a corner since he entered the NFL in 2022. He's also one of just four defensive backs with at least 25 pass breakups, 15 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for loss over that span.

Nacua, who finished 2025 as the NFL's leader in receiving yards per game, was ranked second on this list. That's above NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was ranked fifth.

Pound for pound, Puka Nacua has an argument as the best wide receiver in the NFL. The Rams receiver led the league in receptions (129) and receiving yards per game (107.2) last season. His career average of 95.3 receiving yards per game is also the highest in NFL history.

Nacua is a nightmare for opposing secondaries because he consistently finds ways to get open, and he's shown the ability to completely take over games. He has dealt with some off-the-field issues this offseason, but when he's right, he's at the top of his position.

It's important to note that regardless of off-field issues, Nacua only missed one game in 2025, and that was due to injury. Nacua also averaged over 100 yards in his three playoff games last season, recording 487 total yards and three touchdowns in three contests against the world champion Seattle Seahawks.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2 Rams stars land on list of NFL's 25 best players 25 and under