Overview
Position: Edge defender
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 265 pounds
School: Ohio State Buckeyes
Chase Young 2020 NFL Draft Profile
Anyone who follows college football is well-aware of how many Ohio State alums are making an impact at the next level. On offense, you have players such as running back Ezekiel Elliott and wide receiver Michael Thomas who are among the best at their position in the league. And then there’s the edge rusher position on the other side of the football. Since 2016, both Joey Bosa and Nick Bosa were drafted top-three overall and have quickly become household names with the former having just played in Super Bowl LIV. The latest prospect at the position who’s pretty much guaranteed to be among the first off the board on day one of the draft is Chase Young.
The Hyattsville, MD product was one of the most highly sought after recruits in 2017 with Rivals.com rating him the eighth-best in the nation regardless of position. Recruited by Buckeyes defensive line coach Larry Johnson, Young clearly liked what he saw in Columbus. He committed to the Scarlet and Gray in the summer prior to his senior year in high school. It didn’t take long for him to make a noticeable impact once he arrived on campus.
That said, he was buried on the depth chart as a true freshman behind the younger Bosa as well as players such as Sam Hubbard. Still, he was able to muster 3.5 sacks and five tackles for loss in his nine appearances that year. His final two seasons with OSU were historic, though. He became just the second player in Buckeye history to manage two seasons of 10+ sacks, joining current Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. It included a supremely elite 2019 campaign where he led the nation with 16.5 sacks and added 21 tackles for loss which were tied for fourth among FBS players. For his efforts, he was the only defensive player to receive an invite to the Heisman Trophy ceremony and finished fourth in the final voting.
Strengths
- looks the part of a pro-caliber edge defender;
- showcases above-average explosiveness off the snap;
- violent, constantly active hands make him a matchup nightmare for opposing tackles;
- a legitimate threat to strip-sack the quarterback whenever he’s in the vicinity;
- has a relentless motor and a hunter’s mentality in pursuing the ball-carrier;
- speed to power conversion on bull-rushes is a sight to behold;
- effortless edge-bender;
- extremely speedy in open-field pursuit;
- fairly solid wrap-up tackler;
- can play as a stand-up end or as a hand on the ground rusher;
- comfortable executing stunts and twists, making him an asset in exotic blitz schemes;
- high-level play strength is quite evident;
- played at a program with an established track record of producing NFL-caliber talent at his position.
Weaknesses
- it still remains to be seen how effective he can be against double teams at next level;
- has a tendency to grab a little high which can result in facemask penalties;
- skillset suggests limitations in terms of scheme fit – best suited to 4-3;
- possible concerns over experience with just two years of consistent starter-level reps;
- had a quiet CFP semifinal vs Clemson with no sacks or tackles for loss.
NFL Comparison: Jadeveon Clowney
Teams With Need at Position: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins
Projection: top-three pick
Bottom Line
It’s the most important position on the defensive side of the football. Those who play it at an elite level in the NFL receive massive paydays when they sign their second contract (think of players like Von Miller). And among the 2020 crop of edge rusher prospects, it’s pretty clear that Young is the top dog. Week in and week out, Young completely dominated at the line of scrimmage and completely blew up plays in the backfield. It led to commentators singing his praises during games and NFL teams in need of an instant impact edge rusher vaulting him to the top of their draft boards.
The Bengals obviously pick first in April’s draft and they certainly have a need at the position. However, they’re also in the market for a quarterback which means Joe Burrow is likely the first player off the board. But Young won’t have to wait long. It’s highly likely the Redskins will select him with pick number two. That has to be an exciting prospect for him with a head coach in Ron Rivera, who boasts a wealth of defensive experience, taking the reins in 2020. Not only that, but he’ll be reunited with quite a few former Buckeyes including quarterback Dwayne Haskins and wide receiver Terry McLaurin. The sky is definitely the limit.
