It was largely agreed upon that Washington Redskins DE Chase Young was not only the best defensive prospect, but best overall prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft. With the No. 2 overall pick, the Redskins added Young to an already stout defensive line, immediately putting him in a position to succeed by surrounding him with highly-capable players who will take some attention away from him.
With the team as a whole still not expected to be world-beaters in 2020, many are looking to individual awards to find something to celebrate, and Young’s name atop the candidates for Defensive Rookie of the Year is something to watch. So is Young a lock to win that award, and who else is in the running? Here are a few of the names to keep an eye on, followed by ESPN’s pitch for why Chase might be the guy.
- Chase Young — DE, Redskins
- Isaiah Simmons — LB, Cardinals
- Kenneth Murray — LB, Chargers
- Jeff Okudah — CB, Lions
Washington’s defensive front is actually pretty good, so Young can get some favorable one-on-one matchups. Taking advantage with eight to 10 sacks in Year 1 might be enough to snag DROY. Some NFL teams saw Young as a better prospect than Nick Bosa, and Bosa ran away with the award as a rookie last season. It’s Young’s turn now.
The main threat to Young is Simmons, who was selected No. 8 overall by Arizona. The versatile linebacker can move all throughout the defense, and his NFL Combine statistics were unbelievable. Still, though, it’s hard to find a rookie who landed in a better position than Young, and for that reason alone, he is the heavy favorite.
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