You can’t win anything with kids: Assessing the NFL’s youngest rosters
By Paul Gould
Soccer (yes, I said soccer) pundit Alan Hansen famously once declared: “You can’t win anything with kids”. He was wrong, of course. The young Manchester United squad to whom he was referring immediately went on to dominate the Premier League for a decade.
Different sport, different era. But does the statement ring any truer in today’s NFL?
According to NFL analyst Adam Hartitz, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, who contested Super Bowl LX, rank 17th and 19th in terms of average roster age going into the 2026 season. Right in the middle of the pack. The meat in a club sandwich that has the Cowboys (16th), Ravens (18th) and Eagles (20th) as the bread – all credible contenders to go the distance this year.
Average NFL roster age entering the 2026 season (sorted from youngest to oldest) pic.twitter.com/h74Tm35Dnu
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) May 6, 2026
Interestingly, the extremes at either end of the average age scale show a Conference split. In the table compiled by Hartitz, four of the five youngest rosters belong to the AFC’s Dolphins, Chiefs, Titans and Browns. The only NFC representative in that group is the Packers; while the Commanders, 49ers and Giants possess the oldest squads in the league.
With that in mind, what are the chances of the teams that prefer to put their faith in the younger generation? Could any of them prove that age is not just a number but a winning formula in 2026?
Miami Dolphins (Average age 25.18)
Jeff Hafley arrives from Green Bay as the new head coach with a full rebuild project on his hands. Hafley appears a very different character from his predecessor, Mike McDaniel, and he has already begun to impose his own style and culture on the team.
Beyond the impressive RB De’Von Achane, the offensive roster is pretty threadbare. With star receiver Jaylen Waddle traded to Denver, the pass-catching personnel available to new QB Malik Willis is limited. Miami drafted a trio of receivers and although expecting any of them to fill Waddle’s shoes is too much to ask, Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell and Kevin Coleman Jnr should all benefit from extended playing time.
With an entirely revamped secondary and four rookies added to the front seven rotation, the defense is a work in progress. However, the youthful unit should benefit from the arrival of Hafley.
The Dolphins have a league-high 13 first-year players on the books going into 2026. Hafley will need many of them to take up starting roles immediately and learn on the job if the team is to be competitive this season. It’s far more likely that the Dolphins will be in the running to select first overall in next year’s Draft than be chasing a playoff berth.
Kansas City Chiefs (Average age 25.4)
The Chiefs are perhaps the most surprising team in this group, given the success they’ve achieved in recent years with a nucleus of elite veterans. But Kansas City has shrewdly moved on experienced players at just the right moment to create space for new blood. That they’ve managed to keep the team at the very top of the game whilst constantly evolving the roster speaks volumes for how well run the Chiefs are.
While the prolific Mahomes to Kelce connection will be rolled out once more in 2026, the offensive approach is more diversified these days and the running game has been upgraded with the acquisition of Kenneth Walker III from Seattle.
The receiving corps, although young and not without talent, failed to produce big numbers last season and Hollywood Brown has left for Philadelphia. Those remaining will have to step up this season if the Chiefs are to return to the playoffs after a year’s absence.
On defense, star lineman Chris Jones may be in his autumn years, but stalwarts LB Drew Tranquill and DT Khyiris Tonga are the only other starters aged 30 or older and there are emerging players across several positions.
The spotlight will likely focus on the secondary where the significant holes left by the departure of the excellent OJ McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Rams must be filled. Rookie corner Mansoor Delane is highly rated and could make an instant impact. Fellow first-round pick in 2026, DT Peter Woods stands ready to supplement the aging Jones and Tonga in the trenches.
Tennessee Titans (Average age 25.57)
Look no further than the Titans for a team ready to turn the page on recent seasons. Tennessee hasn’t posted a winning record since 2021 and has gone 3-14 back-to-back. That run has landed the Titans with some prominent draft positions which they have deployed with mixed results.
QB Cam Ward, selected first overall in 2025, is the player the franchise hopes to build around. He showed promise in his rookie year, not least in terms of his leadership, and the pieces are beginning to fall into place to support his growth. Rookie guard Fernando Carmona looks set to join 2024 first-round pick JC Latham in the offensive line protecting Ward and opening running lanes for Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears.
Rookie Carnell Tate arrives as favourite to become Ward’s new No. 1 receiver, while second-year WRs Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor will have more time to develop behind the experienced Wan’Dale Robinson and Calvin Ridley. And TE Gunnar Helm will be promoted to starter in 2026 following a solid rookie campaign.
New HC Robert Saleh and DC Gus Bradley, who have worked together effectively in the past, should enjoy inheriting a young and athletic defense that they can mould to fit their philosophy.
23-year-old Cedric Gray led the team in tackles in 2025 and will be joined in the linebacker room by second round pick Anthony Hill Jnr. and first-rounder Keldric Faulk is likely to be used in rotation at edge. Meanwhile, second-year safety Kevin Winston Jnr. could be a breakout player this season.
Tennessee’s ceiling might be a lot higher than recent records would suggest. With new coaches in place and some young stars emerging, a playoff push may not be beyond the Titans.
Cleveland Browns (Average age 25.62)
The Browns youth skews towards the offensive unit where, other than across the offensive line and at starting quarterback, positions are filled by rookies or second-year players.
Before suffering a nasty injury, rookie RB Quinshon Judkins was enjoying an impressive 2025 season, and Cleveland eagerly awaits his return. Fellow rookie TE Harold Fannin Jnr. was an equally important contributor last year and he will have new help in the receiving corps with the addition of two WRs taken early in the 2026 Draft, KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. And it’s hoped that top 10 pick Spencer Fano will hold down the crucial left tackle role.
While the defense features more experienced players, the Browns have acquired some excellent young talent to complement them. DT Mason Graham and LB Carson Schwesinger both had excellent first seasons, with Schwesinger scooping the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Jared Verse, who won the same award a year earlier, joins the Browns ahead of the 2026 season as the direct replacement for legendary veteran Myles Garrett.
Like the Titans, Cleveland is steadily building a team that emphasises youth. The defense is already among the best in the NFL. If the offense can catch up quickly then the Browns could be a surprise package in 2026.
Green Bay Packers (Average age 25.64)
The Packers anticipated starting offensive line is among the youngest in the NFL, with all members having been drafted since 2021. The group’s performance was inconsistent last season, but there is hope that it will improve in 2026 with 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan stepping up to start at left tackle and Sean Rhyan taking over as the regular center.
The receiving trio of Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed and Christian Watson is youthful too. Alongside star TE Tucker Kraft, who is returning from serious injury, the performance of the group will be pivotal in improving an offense that ranked middle of the pack last season.
Once he returns to fitness, the Packers defense will inevitably revolve around Micah Parsons. Their star player isn’t expected back until around Week 6, but Green Bay also possesses some talented young players who can contribute much to the cause. LBs Lukas Van Ness and Edgerrin Cooper are key to stopping the run, while safety Javon Bullard and nickel Evan Williams will help patrol the secondary.
The Packers reside in the brutal NFC North and making it to the postseason will be difficult regardless of the age of their personnel. But the Packers believe in bringing young players through and that conviction could pay dividends in 2026.
Winning with kids
Only seven Super Bowl champions have had an average roster age below 26: the 1974 Steelers, 1981 49ers, 1985 Bears, 1987 Redskins, 2013 Seahawks, 2014 Patriots and 2021 Rams.
If any of the Dolphins, Chiefs, Titans, Browns or Packers lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2026, they will join this illustrious group. And while that may be a tall task for each of them, there’s little doubt that by investing in youth these teams are building promising futures.
2026 Youngest roster success rankings:
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Cleveland Browns
- Tennessee Titans
- Green Bay Packers
- Miami Dolphins
PAUL GOULD
NFL ANALYST
A freelance writer and editor based in Cambridgeshire, Paul has avidly followed the NFL since the late 1980’s and spends much of his spare time wondering if he’ll ever see the Raiders play in a Super Bowl again.