As the hype for Ohio State defensive end Chase Young has grown to an all-time high in Washington as the Redskins prepare for the 2020 NFL Draft, which is now just days away, some comparisons have become rampant.
Some believe that Young, who was dominant in college, will be a Hall of Fame player; a once-in-a-generation type guy who will lead the Redskins to multiple championships in his career. Others believe that he is good, but not someone who will completely alter the future of the franchise. The answer is that he’s probably somewhere in the middle. So who could you compare him to in the NFL?
Our friends at Touchdown Wire took a crack at finding a comp, as they did for the top 50 rookies in the 2020 NFL Draft class. Their pick for Chase Young? San Francisco 49ers DE Aldon Smith.
Smith was an absolute force as a pass-rusher before off-field issues unfortunately wrecked his athletic potential. But when Smith was on his game, he had the same combination of size, explosive speed, and unusual power that allowed him to total 33.5 sacks in 2011 and 2012 — the most for any NFL player in his first two seasons since the sack became an official statistic in 1982. Young absolutely has the ability to make the same kind of impact, and has All-Pro potential especially if he cleans up a few non-pass rush issues that will make him a more complete player.
While it may not be a high-profile name like Von Miller or Julius Peppers, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being compared to Smith. If the Redskins end up drafting Young at No. 2, and they can add an Aldon Smith-type player to an already stacked defensive line, their front seven will be extremely dangerous for years to come.
