Why Redskins fans should be excited about Chase Young

The Washington Redskins landed the best overall prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft with Ohio State’s Chase Young

In a move everybody saw coming, the Washington Redskins selected Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

The consensus top defender and the best overall prospect on many boards, Young was as easy of a selection as Washington could have made with the second pick.

Young had as good of a season as any player in college football in 2019. In 12 games, the fourth-place Heisman finisher tallied a nation-best 16.5 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss, as well as seven forced fumbles. The man dubbed ‘The Predator’ was a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten, and his tools should translate well to the next level.

A lengthy, muscular, athletic and polished pass-rusher who has very few flaws in his game, Young has an imposing frame, dangerous first-step quickness and the hands to consistently shed blocks and knock opposing offensive linemen off balance. Though Ohio State has recently produced two stars off the edge in Joey and Nick Bosa, Young is arguably better than both of them were coming out of college.

The Redskins used a first-round pick in 2019 to select Montez Sweat, and it didn’t take long for them to find his long-term running mate off the edge. Washington has invested heavily in their front-seven in recent drafts, and with a potential franchise cornerstone like Young in the fold, they should have one of the best pass-rushing units in the league. Young, Sweat, Jonathan Allen, Da’Ron Payne, Matt Ioannidis and Ryan Kerrigan form a truly lethal unit that should give opposing offenses fits in 2020.

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2020 NFL Draft: Washington Redskins team preview

Everything Washington Redskins fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL draft

Everything Washington Redskins fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL draft.

VITALS

Head Coach: Ron Rivera

General Manager: Dan Snyder

2019 Record: 3-13

2020 DRAFT PICKS

1 (2)

3 (66)

4 (108)

4 (142) compensatory

5 (148)

7 (216)

7 (229)

TEAM NEEDS

Edge Rusher

Washington currently deploys a pass rush duo of Montez Sweat and Ryan Kerrigan. The latter is coming off his worst season of sack production in his entire nine-year career. As he approaches the latter part of his career, Washington could use a young talent to be the future pass rusher. A young talented edge rusher the likes of Chase Young could be a cornerstone for the franchise as they try to climb out of the doldrums of the NFC East, a spot they have held down for the most part of the last decade.

Offensive Tackle

Many thought that they found their franchise quarterback with the selection of Dwayne Haskins. If that is indeed the case then the team needs to find a way to protect him. Trent Williams has obviously played his final game for Washington so they must address the blindside spot. They added Cornelius Lucas in the offseason but the former undrafted free agent is on his fifth team since 2014. They will have their choice of tackles if they pass on Chase Young with their first pick at second overall.

Wide Receiver

The team hit the jackpot with a mid-round selection of Terry McLaurin out of Ohio State. Now the focus needs to be on finding another receiver who can be a playmaker across from him. In a passing league a team needs more than one or two options. CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy can really help improve this team. Passing on Young wouldn’t be exactly smart but both would be worthy selections. They will have plenty of receiver optios by the time they pick in round three.

TOP TARGETS

Chase Young | Edge | Ohio State

Jeffrey Okudah | CB | Ohio State

CeeDee Lamb | WR | Oklahoma

Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa

Jedrick Wills | OT | Alabama

Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

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