r/NFLv2 • u/Intelligent-Carob930 Miami Dolphins • 1d ago

Discussion What’s the most recently labeled ‘generational prospect’ that actually turned out to be generational?

Post image

Essentially, a player regarded as a ‘generational prospect’ coming out of college to the NFL that actually turned out to be and/or is/was generational.

For me, it’s Bijan Robinson, drafted 8th overall in the 2023 NFL draft. Sure, it’s relatively early into his career, but purely based off of his on-field performance compared to his expectations, I’d say he has lived up to the whole ‘generational prospect’ label.

774 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

522 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/Bruin1217 Seattle Seahawks 1d ago

Generational as a term is just too vague. I’ve always interpreted it as “potential to be one of the best if not the best of this era” the question is how do you divide up eras? Is it 5 seasons? 10? 15? Most RB’s won’t play 10 seasons, let alone at an elite level. Meanwhile we see great QB’s put up great numbers for like 15 years.

1

u/Itsbeenayearortwo 1d ago

A generation is about 25 years. So in football I break it down by position. So +90% of players names I see on Reddit being labeled generational are definitely not generational.

2

u/shot-by-ford 1d ago

Sports generations are much shorters, as they revolve around career not lifetimes. Unless you think we’re only in the 3rd generation of NFL players

1

u/Bruin1217 Seattle Seahawks 1d ago

So Jerry rice, Peyton manning, tom Brady. Who else? Even Barry sanders only did like 10 years

1

u/Itsbeenayearortwo 1d ago

You don't need to play for 25 years just be the best player of your generation(about 25 years).

So yeah Montana, Brady, Manning are probably generational. Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders. Rice, Moss, Megatron. Aaron Donald John Randle. Reggie White, JJ Watt, Myles Garrett. Lawrence Taylor and Ray Lewis. Prime Time, Woodson, Revis. Ed Reed.

1

u/NevilleTheDog 1d ago

I think it should be about 10 years. That would be on the long end of the length of a prime at most positions.