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Montez Sweat and Chase Young are positioned to become dynamic EDGE duo

By Russell Shavatt

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 23: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes dives to make a tackle on Lexington Thomas of the UNLV Rebels in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 23: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes dives to make a tackle on Lexington Thomas of the UNLV Rebels in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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Both Montez Sweat and Chase Young are more than capable of being the next set of elite edge defender duos in the NFL. Will they be able to live up to their immense potential for the Washington Football Team?

When the Washington Football Team selected Dwayne Haskins with their first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft at No. 15 overall there were mixed emotions. Some felt there were better options at other positions of need ahead of the former Ohio State QB, and others felt the pick was necessary after the devastating leg injury to Alex Smith.

What fans and media alike may not have expected was that Washington would trade back into the first round of that draft to select Mississippi State edge defender Montez Sweat at No. 26 overall.

As a college player, Sweat checked all the boxes when it came to height, weight, speed and production. Overall, he was ideal in terms of what an evaluator would want in a defender whose sole job is to highly disrupt opposing offenses.

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Sweat certainly experienced his share of struggles throughout his rookie year, but he would come to find modest production to include 50 tackles, 7.0 sacks and 13 QB hits. The young defender was not perfect, but he displayed enough to be seen as a potential future dominant force at the position. He improved every week, with arguably his best performance coming in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Fast track to the 2020 NFL Draft, and with the No. 2 overall pick, Washington selected Ohio State edge defender Chase Young. Known as “The Predator,” Young was a dominant force as a college player due to his elite athleticism and physical tools. He finished his three-year career as a Buckeye with a whopping 30.5 sacks, 40.5 tackles for loss, and 9 forced fumbles.

Young’s uncanny ability to wreak havoc on opposing offenses has some analysts thinking Young may, in fact, be a hall of fame type of player when his pro career comes to a close.

The keyword for both players though as professionals is “potential.” While Sweat has had a chance to show his capabilities in year one as a pro, Young has yet to take a snap on the Washington defense against NFL caliber offensive tackles. The two players should lean on the veterans and new coaching staff in order to grow this potential into something special.

The Washington Football Team has invested heavily in both players, and it needs both to be successful. If both can be effective, it would certainly help the defense as a unit, and the team as a whole to find additional wins on the field. In a passing league, being able to rush the quarterback with the front four rather than having to blitz is preferred. Teams that have been able to do this consistently have been more successful than not.

The question remains, can both Sweat and Young live up to their potential in 2020 and beyond? The simple answer is yes. The realistic answer is a bit more complicated.

To live up to one’s hype is always difficult. In the case of Young specifically, if he doesn’t attain Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, he may be seen as a disappointment by some. In reality, if Young shows modest improvement throughout the 2020 league year like Sweat did as a rookie, then he will most certainly be just fine.

Before either player becomes the next Dexter Manley, Julius Peppers, or Khalil Mack, they must focus first on using their unique skill-sets in order to become better football players. If they are able to do so, the stats and notoriety should follow.

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The 2020 season will most likely be a challenging one for Washington. The lack of offseason activities and preseason will be tough for a team that needs experience for players at key positions. However, when it comes to the talent at the edge defender position with Montez Sweat and Chase Young, this dynamic duo has the ability to electrify the Washington fan base and scare opposing offenses for years to come.

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