The Washington Redskins entered the 2020 NFL draft with just one pick in the first two rounds but little chance to screw it up. With the Cincinnati Bengals locked into LSU quarterback Joe Burrow for the last several months, it was assumed the Redskins would select Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young with the second pick.
With a first-round quarterback already on the roster and a new defensive-minded head coach in Ron Rivera, Young and the Redskins were a perfect match.
Fortunately, Washington did the right thing and selected Young in Round 1. And he wasn’t the only promising pick in the Redskins’ 2020 NFL draft haul.
2020 Draft Class
1.02: Chase Young, Edge, Ohio State
3.66: Antonio Gibson, WR, Memphis
4.108: Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU
4.142: Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty
5.156: Keith Ismael, C, San Diego State
5.162: Khaleke Hudson, LB, Michigan
7.216: Kamren Curl, S, Arkansas
7.229: James Smith-Williams, Edge NC State
Best Pick: Chase Young, Edge, Ohio State
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Not much of a debate here. Young has enough natural ability to post 12 or more sacks as a rookie. In fact, he’s so talented that he could challenge to lead the league in sacks in 2020.
Young profiles as a better pass-rusher than both Joey and Nick Bosa, his Ohio State predecessors, who’ve each enjoyed high-end success in the NFL. Young has more potential than any pass-rusher who’s entered the league in quite some time, something that should be familiar to Ron Rivera who was the coach in Carolina when the Panthers selected Julius Peppers.
Young has a chance to enjoy a Peppers-like career. That’s about as high of praise as an incoming rookie can get. It’s deserving, too.
