Will Patrick Mahomes be the starting quarterback for the next five years for the NFL 2020 Future Half-Decade Team?
For the 2025 NFL season, we probably already know which players will rank among the best at their positions. However, in 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029, who will be the top players at each position?
With our NFL 2020s half-decade squad, we will attempt to forecast that. Current stars, up-and-coming talents, and even players who the average fan may not be very familiar with today should all be among the top players in the next five years. For example, despite not even being picked until 2021, Ja’Marr Chase made our NFL 2020 half-decade team.
Similar to the half-decade team that was unveiled on Tuesday, this future squad is based on the Associated Press All-Pro teams that are announced each season. It consists of six special steamers (long snapper, punter, kick returner, punt returner, placekicker, and punter), 12 offensive players (three wide receivers), and 12 defenders (three inside linebackers). For the sake of this exercise, 2025 rookies are not eligible for the squad since they have not yet played an NFL snap.
Although many of the greatest quarterbacks have played their best ball at that time, Mahomes will be approaching the early half of his 30s. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have yet to demonstrate their ability to defeat Mahomes on the biggest stage, and Joe Burrow’s squad isn’t good enough going into the late 2020s. Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders, with his record rookie season, is a compelling candidate here.
Robinson defeats Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions. Robinson will likely shoulder a larger workload because the Falcons still have an inexperienced quarterback (Michael Penix Jr.) and fewer elite wide receiver potential. Robinson also does not have to share his workload with a running mate of Pro Bowl level like Gibbs does.
