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Why the Redskins absolutely should draft Chase Young

By Jonathan Eig

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes pursues Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers in the first half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes pursues Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers in the first half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates a defensive stop against the LSU Tigers during the first quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates a defensive stop against the LSU Tigers during the first quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

The Isaiah Simmons factor

So, the Simmons factor. The recent buzz has the Redskins trading out of the second pick into a position where they can select Simmons. This trade-down scenario makes sense if you think Simmons, with his freakish speed, can be as good – or close to as good – a pass rusher as Chase Young. There are pluses and minuses here.

Simmons has been flying up draft boards ever since his astounding combine performance. Whether that is misdirection or good spin by Simmons’ reps, the perception often becomes reality. That means in order to get Simmons, you can’t trade back too far.

Maybe you can work a deal with the Chargers at No. 6. But can the Chargers really put together a good enough package to make you bite? In terms of draft capital, they really don’t have enough this year to make it work. Would you take their first, second, and third in this scenario? I wouldn’t.

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Maybe future picks or a young starting-caliber player could make it work. But it’s not easy. Bottom line on this – does Simmons, with all his gifts, make your defense better at pressuring the QB than Young?

Recent history offers plenty of examples both for and against the Simmons plan. In 2017, five pass rushers (including Jonathan Allen) were selected before Pittsburgh snatched up T.J. Watt at No. 30.

In 2011, Von Miller went second to Denver and Aldon Smith went seventh (around where Simmons is projected) to San Francisco. Had Smith not sabotaged his own career, maybe we would say that they ended up as roughly equal. I’d still take Miller. Regardless, I doubt anyone would argue that the smart move came at No. 11 that year, when that other Watt kid was picked by Houston.

Maybe the best recent parallel came in 2014. There was some pre-draft debate as to who the better edge player was – Buffalo’s Khalil Mack or UCLA’s Anthony Barr. Mack ended up going fifth overall to Oakland, while Minnesota grabbed Barr at nine. Barr has been a solid player for the Vikings. I would rather have Mack. Of course, similar to 2011, we all would prefer to have gotten the guy who went No. 12 that year. Because even though interior lineman is not a classic pass rush position, it is when your name is Aaron Donald.

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