This season in 2018, the NFL's defenders made their impact known in many different ways. Whether it was on the defensive line, owning the middle of the field at linebacker, or in the secondary, they were easy to recognize. The best thing, is that most of the players that you'll see on this list just completed their first year at the least, or they just completed their fifth year at the most. So if you want to see a list of defenders that will be household names in the years to come, then you're in luck. 

Defensive Line: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
Aaron Donald throughout his career has wrecked havoc on opposing offenses. Last year, he helped the Rams clinch their first playoff berth since 2004, and was rewarded with the defensive player of the year award. This year, he has taken his dominance to a new level as he racked up 20.5 sacks: the most ever by a defensive tackle. This all came while leading the Rams to their first Super Bowl since 2001. What was also impressive for him was the four forced fumbles he had which includes 3 strip sacks. Not bad at all for someone who plays a position that mainly involves stopping the run, rather than sacking the quarterback. Don't worry however, Donald also recorded a career high 25 tackles for a loss. He was once again rewarded with the defensive player of the year award. His play has been noticed by other greats such as Hall of Fame defensive tackle John Randle who said that Donald can change football. He is not wrong. With a guy who trains, studies, and dominates the game as well as anyone can do it, Donald will probably do just that. 

​Defensive End/Outside Linebacker: Khalil Mack, Chicago Bears
Throughout his career, Mack has gotten better and better every year. All you need to do is to look at his stats and his impact. In his rookie year in 2014, Mack had 4 sacks and 76 combined tackles for an Oakland Raiders team that went 3-13. The next year, Mack exploded with 15 sacks which included 5 sacks and an upset win against the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. Mack followed his breakout season with winning the defensive player of the year award and helped the Raiders to their first playoff berth since 2002. Another another double digit sack season in 2017, Mack was traded to the Chicago Bears after holding out for the majority of the offseason. In his first game as a Bear, Mack recorded 1 sack, a forced fumble which he recovered, and a pick six. Despite the Bears losing that game, they made sure that it wouldn't happen again. Chicago went 12 -3 for the rest of the season. Mack was not only recording his vintage stats, but he had the impact to prove his value. Former Bears great and Hall of Famer Dan Hampton said that Mack, not Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher is the best Bears defender in the last 30 years. By the time the season ended, Mack recorded 12.5 sacks and a whopping 6 forced fumbles while leading the Bears to a division title. As for Mack's future, get used to lots of sacks, forced fumbles, and wins. 

Linebacker: Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
In just one season, the second round pick Leonard established himself as the quarterback of the Colts’ defense. In all of the 18 games that Leonard played in which includes the 2 playoff games, he was all over the field. His stats prove that. Leonard’s regular season stats includes 163 tackles, 7 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions. He also helped the Colts make the playoffs in which he got an interception in the game that they clinched their playoff berth. In the 2 playoff games that the Colts were in, he recorded 27 tackles and 1 forced fumble. Despite surprisingly not making the pro bowl, he was rewarded with a Second Team All Pro selection and won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Leonard’s high level play is something that will probably continue in the years to come, so football fans shouldn’t be surprised when Leonard becomes a star.

Secondary: Strong Safety, Jamal Adams, New York Jets
If you want to see a player who gives everything he has out on the field, then this is the guy.  Drafted 6th overall in 2017, Adams had a strong rookie season recording 83 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 fumble recoveries. He was rewarded by making First Team all Rookie, but Adams knew he could do better. In fact, he vowed to do better. This season, he did do better. Adams had 115 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. His skills defending the pass also improved as his pass deflections went from 6 last year, to 12 this year. He also recorded his first career interception and returned it 38 yards. He made the pro bowl and won Defensive MVP as well as making Second Team All Pro. It’s more than the stats however. On every play, Adams goes 110% and usually gets rewarded most of the time which was evident this year. His role as a leader on the Jets defense is also noticed. After 2 years, Adams is already paving a clear path to becoming not just a great player, but a generational player.

Secondary: Cornerback, Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville Jaguars 
Ramsey since his rookie season has emerged as one of the elite cornerbacks of his generation. In just 3 years, Ramsey has recorded 9 interceptions and 44 pass deflections. Now you may see those stats and say that their good, but not great. The reason why is because Ramsey has the ability to take receivers out of the game. He officially had that reputation last year as he helped the Jaguars clinch their first division title since 1999 and their first playoff berth since 2007. In his first playoff game, he shut down any Buffalo Bills receiver that was against him and clinched the game with an interception. In the next game, Ramsey made a key fourth down stop in a Jaguars upset over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their run ended against the New England Patriots, but Ramsey had officially established himself amongst the NFL’s elite. The next season, he didn’t do better than last season, but he still dominated other teams’ receivers. Amongst all of the other emerging shutdown cornerbacks such as Marshon Lattimore of the New Orleans Saints and Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns, Ramsey still stands amongst all off them. Even if he losses that title, he will still be a household name in the years to come.

Secondary: Free Safety, Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears
In just two years, Jackson has proved himself to be a game breaking talent for a Chicago Bears team that could be a Super Bowl champion in the future. Jackson’s path to becoming an elite NFL player is the same as Jamal Adams with a couple differences in the way. One difference is that unlike Adams, he was drafted in the 4th round. His position is also free safety. But other than that he had a solid rookie season which included having 2 75+ touchdowns in the same game against the Carolina Panthers. One was a fumble return and the other was an interception return. He finished his rookie season with 73 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 3 fumble recoveries.

What was to come next year was even more amazing. Jackson despite having only 51 tackles this year, had a whopping 6 interceptions, along with 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery to go with that. What was also impressive, was the 3 touchdowns he had. 2 were off interceptions and the other was off a fumble recovery. His play was essential to the Bears making the playoffs and clinching their division for the first time since 2010. In the clinching game, Jackson picked off Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. However, he injured himself while falling down. The Bears were upset in the first round by the Philadelphia Eagles. The question next year is whether Jackson can stay healthy this time towards the end of the season, because if he can, he can very well be the best player at his position for a long time. 

This list highlights the players on offense who have established, or are beginning to establish themselves as generational talents. After Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, and Charles Woodson retired midway in this decade, the NFL hasn’t had that much players that could be thought of as great players, let alone players that are stars but not generational talents. But after this season, NFL fans can now watch a new group of future that extends even beyond all of the players that I mentioned. Get excited football fans, these future stars are only beginning to mark their names.

In 2018, the NFL finally got a group of men that have established themselves as a generational talent. They are officially players who will be looked at as the faces of the NFL. Despite none of the rookie quarterbacks making this list, we should not ignore the fact that in the future, they will also become the new stars of the NFL.

Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
One season, 50 touchdowns and 5,097 yards. A 12 win season. 1 playoff win. A M.V.P award. This man is a beast and he's been able to win. If that's not enough look at all the ways he's won. Sometimes it was playing around with the Chargers, Steelers, and Jaguars' defense. Other times he was winning gutsy games such as against Denver under the lights and against Baltimore's top ranked defense in week 14. Most importantly, he has established himself as a leader of what is a Kansas City Chiefs team with lots of young guns. The best has yet to come for Mahomes.

Running Back: Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams
There's only one thing that describes Gurley's game and that is classiness. This season, Gurley had 1,251 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. His receiving stats of 580 yards and 4 touchdowns, were also impressive for a running back. More importantly, he was a big part of the Rams' Super Bowl run. As for his overall career, he has averaged 1,137 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. From scrimmage, he's averaged 1,608 yards and 14 touchdowns. Don't forget the dominance that he has had in these last two seasons where he has had two career years. Also, ignore the injury bug he had in the playoffs, because once the new season starts he'll have a fresh start which means gaining back the superiority he had for most of this season.

Wide Receiver: Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
This man screams out consistency. Yet he takes his consistency to a level of dominance. Over the last two years, he has put up monster numbers, averaging 115 receptions, 1,325 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns. In some games, he has put up outrageous numbers. In week 9 of this year's matchup against the 8-0 Rams, Thomas put up 12 receptions for 211 yards and a touchdown, helping the Saints win 45-35. In the divisional round, he put on a show for the Superdome crowd with 12 receptions for 171 yards and a touchdown in a 20-14 win over the Eagles. It's safe to say that after three seasons, Thomas is already very close to becoming a generational talent. 

Tight End: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Kelce is simply a dominant player. He's been having 1,000 plus years seasons in the last three years as well as 22 combined touchdowns. This season with Mahomes running the show, Kelce recorded 1,336 yards and 10 touchdowns off 103 receptions. All are career highs for a the tight end. The best thing, is that Kelce is 29 years old and hasn't had the injury problems that Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has had. So that means more seasons, more wide receiver like numbers for the fun loving tight end. 

Offensive Lineman: Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts

If there's any words to describe this guy, it would be mammoth. Throughout his rookie campaign, he made his impact in every game. He has the stats to show that, as he racked up around 20 pancakes which includes the Colts 2 playoff games. One of his pancakes went viral as he screamed out while charging at Jaguars safety Barry Church just before the scene of the crime. More importantly, he's now someone who can protect pro bowl Q.B. Andrew Luck. He also helped the Colts rebound from a 1-5 start, to an appearance in the divisional round. 

These are your players on offense who have established, or are on the verge of establishing, themselves as generational talents. After Peyton Manning, Calvin Johnson, and Tony Gonzalez retired in the mid 2010s, the NFL hasn't had many offensive players that could be considered generational talents, let alone come close to that feat. But after this season, NFL fans can now watch a new group of future stars that extends even beyond all of the players that I mentioned. Get excited football fans, the future stars are only beginning to mark their names. 

Yesterday was a day that lots of Knicks fans will remember. It will either be remembered for positive or negative reasons. What happened was that the Knicks traded their promising star Kristaps Porizingis to the Dallas Mavericks along with Tim Hardway Jr.,  Courtney Lee, and Trey Burke. The Knicks in return, got DeAndre Jordan, Dennis Smith Jr., and Wesley Matthews.

To a good amount of Knicks fans, it was a devastating blow for them to see Porzingis who was an all star last season, averaging 22 points before tearing his A.C.L. on February 6. He then expressed displeasure about the direction that the team was heading this year, with a 10-40 record, despite a bright long term future. The future free agent was traded shortly afterward. He thanked the city of New York on his Twitter and Instagram account. 

However, there is now a bright spot. With the trade, the Knicks know have over 70 million in cap space. Good enough to land 2 max contract superstars in free agency. This year's free agency features star players Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker, and much more players. They also have a shot at getting who some consider to be the next LeBron James: small forward Zion Williamson out of Duke. They have already had a successful draft class in promising forward Kevin Knox, a pogo-stick center in Mitchell Robinson, and scoring guard Alonzo Trier who was undrafted. The factor that also makes another successful draft class possible, is the fact that there is lots of trust in the Knicks management.

As for free agency, they've been rumored to be Kyrie Irving's next team since he asked to be traded in 2017 when he was on the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he eventually got shipped to Boston. The rumors started to swirl up again when reports stated that he wasn't happy on the Celtics. Despite publicly saying that he will resign with the Celtics this preseason, last month was a whirlwind that only focused by Irving wanting out. Before the season, the Knicks had a 47% chance compared to the 44% that Boston had. After his comments, it now seems more likely than ever unless something else happens.

Durant's rumors started before this NBA season, as rumors said that he was unhappy in Golden State. His brother, Tony Durant, commented on his Instagram post after opening day, "yessir brother!!!! Filling the hand up before we get outta here." He was referring to Golden State. Durant's body language has also seemed to indicate that he wants out. In some games, he played very well but didn't win, such as in Toronto where he put up 51 points, but was outwitted by Leonard in a loss. He has also constantly declined to talk about free agency. New York has also been the favorites to land him.

So for Knicks fans, 2018-19 may have been a lost season regarding their record, but they've already seen growth from most of their young players. Thanks to their entire draft class last year which has stirred up positivity, they are likely to have another successful all around draft class, They will be able to use their cap space to get from one to two marquee free agents. So with that, Knicks fans who have seen them miss the playoffs 14 times since 2001, this off season should and probably will change all of that.