Best NFL players under 25 at every position entering 2017

Inside linebacker: Deion Jones, Atlanta Falcons

Based on the way Jones played during his rookie campaign last year, it’s hard to believe the Falcons stole him in the second round (No. 52 overall).

An undersized inside backer at 6-foot-1 and just 222 pounds, this young man can simply fly across the field. A sideline-to-sideline player with tremendous instincts that allow him to knife between blockers on running plays, he’s the new breed, perfect for today’s pass-happy NFL.

He totaled 106 tackles last year and intercepted three passes, turning two of those into scores for the Falcons.

Atlanta’s defense is built on speed. In this capacity as quarterback of the defense, Jones has already become a linchpin for Dan Quinn and Co. It’s crazy to think that he’s still just a pup (22 years old) and has so much room to grow.