Assessing Redskins first-round options: Ohio State EDGE Chase Young

Should the Redskins draft Chase Young?

Chase Young is good. Very good. Good enough to eliminate all other options from the race? Barely anyone is that good. One should always keep their options open. But for the Redskins, Young is a superb mix of talent and need, ripe for the taking.

With a pick that contains as much potential energy as the No. 2 selection, however, the Redskins would be foolish to close themselves off to other opportunities. As good as Young is, there are other edge rushers later on who also have exciting upside, and could amount to something under a coaching staff that can develop them. If the Redskins can trade back, fill a few more needs with acquired picks, and get another developmental edge to learn under Kerrigan for a year, that might be just as enticing, depending on the haul. The theoretical below is one example:

In that theoretical, the Redskins essentially substitute Chase Young for a defensive chess piece with similarly elite potential (More information will be shed on Isaiah Simmons in his inevitable scouting report, coming soon), a more raw edge rusher with all the top-shelf athletic traits necessary to develop and succeed, and a starting left tackle who also possesses athletic upside. You can love Chase Young all you want, but if the chance to get that kind of asset infusion presents itself, you have to think about it. As good as Young is, there are alternative courses of action that provide more flexibility across the roster.

That said, Young is a likely blue-chip talent at the next level, and his combination of low bust potential and untapped upside is something almost no other prospects in this class can boast. He’s not perfect, as hyperbole will lead some to believe, but on the solidity scale, he’s at the top of his class, and the Redskins might not want to give the Giants a chance to add that kind of game-changing prospect.

Chase Young makes a compelling case to be the No. 1 overall player in the 2020 NFL Draft, based on security and potential. While other options always have to be considered, you won’t hear any complaints if the Redskins take the arguable No. 1 overall player at No. 2 overall. That’s a value deal, and on tape, Young brings tantalizing value at almost every facet.