For a fan of the NFL, one of the most exciting times of the year is in the weeks and months leading up to the NFL Draft, where rumors swirl and player-hype gets ramped up so much that you’re sure whatever guy your team selects will undoubtedly be the missing piece, and his presence on the roster will spur them to great success.
This anticipation and debate over who your team is going to draft should not be taken for granted, as many wouldn’t trade it for the world. Except for fans of the Washington Redskins, that is — they would gladly trade those months of speculation if it meant bringing in Ohio State DE Chase Young with the No. 2 pick.
That’s where Young has been slotted to go in about 98 percent of mock drafts so far this season, and it’s likely where he will end up in April. For ESPN’s Todd McShay, who released his 2020 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 on Tuesday, it’s an easy decision for Washington to make, and it has the chance to completely remake their future outlook.
This could be the easiest pick on the board, and considering the Redskins were 10th in the league with 46 sacks, it doesn’t have much to do with a particular need. No, this instead has everything to do with the special talent of Young, who has one of the highest grades I’ve given a player in two decades of scouting. Last year’s No. 2 pick and former Buckeyes teammate Nick Bosa was a difference-maker in Year 1, but the scary truth is that Young is an even better prospect.
An even better prospect. It’s hard not to read that sentence a few times over, especially when we are all fresh off of watching Bosa have a dominant impact against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV. His stat sheet may have only read five tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble, but Bosa was able to draw so much attention on the front line that his impact was felt across the defensive front.
Now, Chase Young — who is an even better prospect than Bosa — has the chance to come to Washington and follow in the path that his former teammate helped to carve out.
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