Redskins first-round pick Chase Young hard at work ahead of 2020 season

It was one of the most unquestioned selections in the 2020 NFL Draft, and months later, Chase Young is only reaffirming the Redskins confidence in him.

There was some measured debate over who the Washington Redskins would pick at No. 2 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, but that debate was always primarily for theatrical purposes. Everyone and their mother knew that Chase Young was likely to be the pick from the start of the offseason, and in late April, the Redskins fulfilled that prophecy, selecting “the Predator” with their pick.

Young’s resume was tough to question heading into draft season. The 6-foot-5, 264-pound edge rusher wreaked havoc on Big Ten offenses all throughout the 2019 season, racking up 16.5 sacks, 21.0 tackles for loss, and seven forced fumbles in his junior campaign.

On tape, Young boasted off-the-charts explosiveness and drive, and he also showed flashes of other fundamental edge rushing staples, such as bend, hand quickness, and core power. He’s been lauded as a physical freak and a tireless worker throughout the entire process, and as you can see from the video below, he’s not wasting any time preparing for his rookie year.

https://twitter.com/brgridiron/status/1280169035330715651

There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding all NFL teams at the moment, and with the Redskins’ name saga still underway, that uncertainty is compounded. But one thing that provides some peace of mind is the presence of Chase Young. Washington came into the 2020 offseason in dire need of young, blue-chip talent, and although he has yet to hit the field, Young looks like he could be a game-changing addition.

With Young rushing the edge in 2020, the Redskins are set to have one of the longest, most athletic edge tandems in all of professional football. Young will be accompanied by Montez Sweat on the outside, and on the interior, the fearsome trio of Daron Payne, Matt Ioannidis, and Jonathan Allen will continue to provide pressure.

Young’s addition isn’t ground-breaking from a strategic perspective; generating pressure has long been an important part of winning on defense. But Young does it so well, and now, he’ll be working in tandem with four players who excel in that area as well. The unit’s success in 2020 is contingent on Young doing his part as a blue-chip talent, but based on what we’ve seen thus far, fans shouldn’t be worried about him falling short.