Young NFL Players With the Potential to Become the GOAT

Not many people would dispute that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will go down in history as one of the best and most memorable players in NFL history. Not only does he have seven Super Bowl wins under his belt, he holds the records for the most touchdowns, game wins and passing yards.

While Tom Brady is widely renowned as the GOAT for now, the player is heading for retirement and fans are turning their attention to younger players who are still developing their skills and career.

NFL fans put a lot of energy into assessing team and player potential and keeping track of the latest  NFL lines, sportsbooks make predictions on who is most likely to succeed in the games ahead.

Here are just a few of the most talented young players with the potential to become as great or greater than NFL legend Tom Brady:

Nick Bosa - San Francisco 49ers

25 year old defensive player Nick Bosa was voted NFL’s 25th Best Player in a poll that was conducted by the NFL network in 2022.

Since being drafted in 2019 and signing on to a four-year deal with the 49ers worth $33.5 million dollars, Bosa hasn’t looked back. He completed his rookie year with 47 tackles, nine sacks, two pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

After suffering a torn ACL in the 2020 season, he came back fighting and in 2021 and by Week 11 he had 10 sacks. By the end of the season Bosa was named to his second career pro bowl.

Talent clearly runs in the family as Bosa’s older brother Joey is an outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers with an equally impressive career record.

Jonathan Taylor - Indianapolis Colts

Another potential young GOAT in the world of NFL is Colts’ running back Johnathan Taylor. In his rookie year he had an impressive tally of 1,169 rushing yards and averaged more than 2,000 rushing yards per season during his time in Wisconsin.

Overall, he is the youngest player in the sport’s history with at least 2,000 scrimmage yards, and in 2021, Taylor led the NFL in both rushing yards and touchdowns. The now 23-year-old was unfortunate to finish the 2022 season in December with an ankle sprain and is focusing on his recovery.

The end of his rookie contract with the Colts is in sight and the team are likely to want to keep him on.

Justin Jefferson - Minnesota Vikings

Wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, Justin Jefferson is another player with great potential on the pitch. After playing his college career at Louisiana State University, he was drafted to the team in 2020 and soon broke the rookie record with 1,400 receiving yards.

In the 2021 season his performance earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week and NFC Offensive Player of the Month. He was also named to the Pro Bowl for the second time.

Jefferson continues to impress and in 2022 he finished off the season with 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns. Attention is now turning to his contract, and he could be up for a massive long-term deal with the Vikings.

Justin Herbert - Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers also have a young player that is a potential future GOAT. Quarterback Justin Herbert was the starting quarterback in his second game in his rookie year and has continued to impress ever since.

That first season he threw more than 4,000 yards and racked up 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. By 2021 the player was really turning heads and became the first in history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in one season. In 2022, Herbert made the playoffs with the Chargers for the first time.

Tristan Wirfs - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brady might be considered the Buccaneers’ GOAT at this moment in time, but offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs could be set to take this title in the years ahead. The 23 year old has established himself as one of the best offensive lineman in the game in the past two seasons.

He was drafted in the first round at the 2020 NFL draft and started in all four games of the game in the Buccaneers' playoff run that ended in them winning the Super Bowl. In the 2021 season he was named to his first career Pro Bowl and started in all 17 games before being taken out by an ankle injury.

These five young NFL stars all show major talent and are certainly the ones to watch in the upcoming seasons.