NFL All-Time Most Valuable Assets

Cleveland Browns, running back

1957 season, age 21

He led the league with 942 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns as a rookie, and was Rookie of the Year and first-team All-NFL. He would lead the league in rushing 8 times in 9 seasons and retire at 30 as the best player in the game. There was no free agency. Cleveland held a 21-year-old with all of that ahead of him.

New York Giants, linebacker

1981 season, age 22

Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, which no one else has done. He was 22. The Giants built their defense around him, and the rest of the league spent a decade trying to block him.

Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback

2019 season, age 24

He was already the reigning MVP. In the 2019 playoffs he won the Super Bowl and its MVP award, throwing 2 touchdowns and running for a third in the win over San Francisco. That July he signed a 10-year extension worth up to $503 million, the largest contract in North American sports at the time. Kansas City had a 24-year-old with an MVP, a title and a Super Bowl MVP, signed through 2031.

Detroit Lions, running back

1989 season, age 21

He ran for 1,470 yards as a rookie and was Offensive Rookie of the Year, 10 yards short of the rushing title. He would win 2 Offensive Player of the Year awards and a share of an MVP, and retire at 30 with the second-most rushing yards in history. At 21, all of it was ahead of him.

San Francisco 49ers, wide receiver

1987 season, age 25

Twenty-two touchdown catches in a 12-game strike season. The record stood for 20 years, until Randy Moss beat it in 16 games. He was Offensive Player of the Year at 25, with 17 seasons still to come and the career receiving records at the end of them.

Minnesota Vikings, wide receiver

1998 season, age 21

Seventeen touchdown catches as a rookie, a record for a first-year receiver, with 1,313 yards, and Offensive Rookie of the Year at 21. He had dropped to the 21st pick over off-field concerns. Minnesota had the most explosive receiver of his generation on a rookie contract.

Baltimore Ravens, linebacker

2000 season, age 25

Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP in the same season, on a defense that allowed 165 points, the fewest of any 16-game season. He was 25, in his fifth year.

Los Angeles Rams, defensive tackle

2018 season, age 27

Twenty and a half sacks from the interior, the most ever by a defensive tackle, and a second straight Defensive Player of the Year award. That August he signed a 6-year, $135 million extension. The Rams had the most disruptive lineman in the game, signed through his prime.

San Francisco 49ers, cornerback

1994 season, age 27

Six interceptions, 3 of them returned for touchdowns and 2 of those longer than 90 yards, which no one else has done in one season. He was Defensive Player of the Year and won the Super Bowl. He had signed a 1-year deal with San Francisco to win a ring, and did.

Philadelphia Eagles, defensive end

1987 season, age 26

Twenty-one sacks in a 12-game strike season and Defensive Player of the Year at 26. He left for Green Bay as a free agent in 1993, in the first year of free agency. Philadelphia had him before that price existed.

Minnesota Vikings, wide receiver

2022 season, age 23

He led the league with 128 catches and 1,809 yards and was Offensive Player of the Year. He was 23, on a rookie contract with 2 years left. The $140 million extension that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback came 2 years later.

New England Patriots, tight end

2011 season, age 22

Seventeen touchdown catches, still the record for a tight end, and 1,327 yards in his second season. He was 22, on a rookie deal.

San Diego Chargers, running back

2006 season, age 27

Twenty-eight rushing touchdowns and 31 in all, both still records, and the MVP award, the first in Chargers history. He was 27, in his sixth season.

St. Louis Rams, running back

2000 season, age 27

He had 2,189 yards from scrimmage, a league-leading 26 touchdowns, then a record, and the MVP award. He caught passes like a receiver and ran like a back in the same game.

Carolina Panthers, linebacker

2013 season, age 22

Defensive Player of the Year in his second season, a year after Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was 22, on his rookie contract.

Baltimore Ravens, safety

2004 season, age 26

Nine interceptions, including a 106-yard return for a touchdown that was a record at the time, and Defensive Player of the Year at 26.

Dallas Cowboys, running back

1995 season, age 26

Career highs of 1,773 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns, the rushing title, and a third Super Bowl in 4 years. He was 26 with 3 rings. Walter Payton’s career rushing record fell to him later, and still stands.

Miami Dolphins, quarterback

1984 season, age 23

5,084 passing yards and 48 touchdown passes, both records by a wide margin; the old touchdown record was 36. MVP at 23, in his second season. Miami went 14-2 and lost the Super Bowl to San Francisco. He never got that close again.

Houston Texans, defensive end

2014 season, age 25

Twenty and a half sacks and 4 forced fumbles, and the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year vote in league history, his second award at 25. He was the first player with two 20-sack seasons.

Denver Broncos, cornerback

2004 season, age 26

Traded for Clinton Portis and a second-round pick in March 2004, then a first-team All-Pro in his first season in Denver, the first of 3 in a row. He was 26.

Dallas Cowboys, guard

1995 season, age 24

A second-round pick from Division II Sonoma State, starting at guard for a Super Bowl champion in his second season. He was credited with a 700-pound bench press and once ran down a linebacker from behind on an interception return. He was 24, and would make 11 Pro Bowls.

Green Bay Packers, quarterback

2011 season, age 28

Forty-five touchdown passes against 6 interceptions and a 122.5 passer rating, a record at the time, on a 15-1 team. MVP with 48 of 50 votes. He was 28. Three more MVPs followed.

Detroit Lions, wide receiver

2012 season, age 27

He had 1,964 receiving yards, breaking Jerry Rice’s single-season record, on a team that went 4-12. Nobody has passed it since. He was 27.

Cleveland Browns, defensive end

2023 season, age 28

Fourteen sacks, a sixth straight season in double figures, and Defensive Player of the Year, the first in Browns history, ahead of T.J. Watt in the vote. He was 28. In 2025 he broke the single-season sack record with 23.

Los Angeles Rams, running back

1984 season, age 24

He ran for 2,105 yards in his second season, breaking O.J. Simpson’s record. Four decades later it still stands. He was 24.

Arizona Cardinals, wide receiver

2008 season, age 25

He tied for the league lead with 12 touchdown catches, then had 546 yards and 7 touchdowns in 4 playoff games, breaking Jerry Rice’s postseason record: 3 touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game, 127 yards in the Super Bowl loss. He was 25. Arizona had not hosted a home playoff game since 1947 before that run.

Indianapolis Colts, quarterback

2004 season, age 28

Forty-nine touchdown passes and a 121.1 passer rating, both records at the time, and 49 of 50 MVP votes. He was 28, the most accurate passer the league had produced. The first of his two Super Bowl wins came 2 years later.

Baltimore Ravens, offensive tackle

2000 season, age 26

The first draft pick in Ravens history anchored the line for a Super Bowl champion. He was 26. He would finish with 11 Pro Bowls and 4 first-team All-Pro selections.

Pittsburgh Steelers, safety

2010 season, age 29

Seven interceptions and Defensive Player of the Year, then a Super Bowl loss to Green Bay. He was 29, and still played the position in a way no one else did.

San Francisco 49ers, wide receiver

2000 season, age 27

Thirteen touchdown catches, and a 20-catch, 283-yard game against Chicago in December that broke a single-game record from 1950. He was 27.

New York Giants, defensive end

2001 season, age 30

Twenty-two and a half sacks, a single-season record that T.J. Watt tied in 2021 and Myles Garrett broke in 2025, and Defensive Player of the Year. He was 30. The Super Bowl came 6 years later.

New England Patriots, quarterback

2007 season, age 30

Fifty touchdown passes, then a record, on a 16-0 team, and the MVP award with 49 of 50 votes. He was 30 with 3 rings, and had 15 more seasons ahead of him.

Denver Broncos, quarterback

1997 season, age 37

His first Super Bowl win, over Green Bay, in his fourth try and his fifteenth season. He was 37, with almost nothing left on the term.

San Francisco 49ers, quarterback

1989 season, age 33

A career-best 112.4 passer rating on 3,521 yards and 26 touchdowns against 8 interceptions, the MVP award, then a 55-10 Super Bowl win over Denver and his third Super Bowl MVP, the first player to win it 3 times. He was 33 with 4 rings.

Pittsburgh Steelers, cornerback

1993 season, age 28

Eight interceptions, 28 passes defensed and Defensive Player of the Year. He was 28, the best cover corner in the league.

Green Bay Packers, cornerback

2009 season, age 33

Nine interceptions, 3 returned for touchdowns, and Defensive Player of the Year, the first cornerback to win it since Deion Sanders in 1994. He had left Oakland for Green Bay as a free agent in 2006. Three years later he was the best defensive back in the league.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, defensive tackle

1999 season, age 27

Twelve and a half sacks from the interior and Defensive Player of the Year, as Tampa Bay won its first division title in 18 years. He was 27, a defensive tackle good enough to be the best defender in the league.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, linebacker

2002 season, age 29

Five interceptions, 3 returned for touchdowns, the only linebacker to do that in one season, then Defensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl he sealed with a 44-yard interception return for a touchdown. He was 29.

San Francisco 49ers, safety

1986 season, age 27

A league-leading 10 interceptions in his first season at free safety. He was 27 with 2 rings already.

Buffalo Bills, defensive end

1990 season, age 27

Nineteen sacks and 101 tackles, and the first of his two Defensive Player of the Year awards. He was 27, on his way to 200 career sacks, still the record.

San Diego Chargers, linebacker

1994 season, age 25

The best player on the only Super Bowl team San Diego ever had, which lost to San Francisco. He was 25, in the middle of 12 straight Pro Bowls.

Washington Redskins, cornerback

1987 season, age 27

A Super Bowl title at 27. He was clocked as the fastest player in the league 4 times over a 20-year career, and would intercept a pass in 19 straight seasons.

Seattle Seahawks, offensive tackle

2005 season, age 31

A first-team All-Pro at left tackle for a Seattle team that reached the Super Bowl and lost to Pittsburgh. Over his career he allowed 23 sacks in 180 starts. He was 31.

Chicago Bears, running back

1977 season, age 23

He ran for 1,852 yards and won the MVP award, with a 275-yard game against Minnesota that stood as the single-game record for 23 years. He was 23. He passed Jim Brown’s career rushing record 7 years later.

Cincinnati Bengals, offensive tackle

1988 season, age 30

An Offensive Lineman of the Year award, in the middle of 11 straight Pro Bowls, and a second Super Bowl, another loss to San Francisco. He was 30. No left tackle since has matched the run.

Kansas City Chiefs, tight end

1999 season, age 23

Seventy-six catches, 849 yards and 11 touchdowns in his third season, and the first of 14 Pro Bowls, the most by a tight end. He was 23. He would be first-team All-Pro 6 times, retire with more catches than any tight end in history, and become the first tight end to reach the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

Green Bay Packers, wide receiver

1942 season, age 29

Seventeen touchdown catches, 74 receptions and 1,211 yards, the league’s first 1,000-yard receiving season. He was 29.

Baltimore Colts, quarterback

1958 season, age 25

In the 1958 championship game against the Giants he drove the Colts to the tying field goal in the final 2 minutes, then 80 yards to the winning touchdown in overtime. It is still called the greatest game ever played. He was 25, 3 years after Pittsburgh cut him and Baltimore signed him off a semi-pro team that paid him $6 a game.

Chicago Bears, linebacker

1969 season, age 27

The first of 2 Defensive Player of the Year awards, on the way to 8 Pro Bowls in 9 seasons and 5 first-team All-Pro selections. He is still the standard for middle linebackers. He was 27. Chicago never gave him a playoff game.

New England Patriots, guard

1978 season, age 27

The first of 4 straight Offensive Lineman of the Year awards, on a Patriots team that set a record for rushing yards in a season that stood for 41 years. Sports Illustrated later put him on its cover as the best offensive lineman ever. He was 27.

What he had done by the end of that season, measured against his own era: MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards, Super Bowls, All-Pro teams and records. A rushing title in 1957 and one in 1997 are different things.

How many good years he had left. A star at 22 is worth more than the same star at 32.

How long his team could keep him. There was no real free agency before 1993, so for most of the league’s history a team kept a player as long as it wanted. Where a contract matters, it is noted. Where there was none, the years of team control count instead.

How hard the position is to fill. Great quarterbacks, pass rushers, cornerbacks and left tackles almost never reach the open market.