He was a third-round draft pick of the Detroit Lions who won a starting job as a rookie last fall. Then, Larry Warford kept improving and improving, his consistency more that of a veteran than a first-year player.

By the end of the season, there was a chance Warford would end up in the Pro Bowl (he didn't). If teams were drafting again, he would have almost assuredly been a first rounder. In 16 games, he turned himself into one of the more dominant guards in the NFL all before his second season.

Now, Warford is beginning to be recognized as a major talent for the future. ESPN colleagues Mike Sando and Mel Kiper Jr. placed him at No. 19 on their 25 under 25 list for the top non-rookies in the league under 25.

Warford was the only Lions player to make the list or even be considered -- slotted between Cincinnati running back Giovani Bernard and Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner.

One quick caveat here -- this list would likely have had at least a couple of more Lions, but receiver Golden Tate and defensive end Ezekiel Ansah are both already 25 years old, making them ineligible.

To see the full list, check out this link.