Redskins: Predicting the 2020 stats for each incoming rookie

Chase Young

This is Chase Young we’re talking about, so I know that any prediction under 24.5 sacks and 11 forced fumbles is just going to disappoint. But Young doesn’t need double-digit sacks to have a successful rookie season. The circumstances around him might make it hard to reach that mark, anyway.

Young was a menace in his final collegiate season, logging 46 total tackles, 16.5 sacks, 21.0 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, and three pass deflections. Draft analysts marveled at his combination of athletic dominance and relentless urgency, and in the 2020 NFL Draft, he was an easy selection for a team that didn’t necessarily need an edge rusher.

All the signs point to Young picking up right where he left off in the NFL. He’s an elite athlete with an NFL-ready 6-foot-5, 264-pound frame, and he’s only going to get better from here. But despite Young’s promising outlook, there is one factor detracting from his statistical potential: The talent around him.

Here’s the thing about sacks: A lot of people can provide pressure and contribute to a sack, but only up to two players can ultimately get the sack on a given play. Young will be providing pressure early, but he’ll be competing for sacks with players like Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, Daron Payne, and even Ryan Kerrigan.

The Redskins have a stacked defensive line, which is awesome. But it also means Young may have to share the wealth statistically. Of course, that’s not a bad thing either, because there are better numbers to use to measure Young’s effectiveness, such as pressure rate and total pressures. I think he’ll do just fine there, too.

Chase Young Prediction: 16 games, 16 starts, 9.0 sacks, 12 TFL, four FFs, two PBUs, 640 pass rushing snaps, 85 pressures (13.3 % pressure rate)