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Chase Young

NFL Draft Rumors: Lions, Giants, Dolphins

January 9th, 2020 at 9:52am CST by Zachary Links

Here’s the latest NFL Draft buzz from Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller:

  • Miller would be positively stunned if the Bengals don’t draft LSU quarterback Joe Burrow No. 1 overall and the Redskins don’t grab Ohio State defensive end Chase Young with the No. 2 pick.
  • With that in mind, Miller feels the draft truly starts at No. 3 overall, where the Lions pick. Sources tell Miller that they’ll look heavily at Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah and Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown. Then again, it’s a prime trade-back spot – teams like the Dolphins, Chargers, and Panthers could move up to land a QB.
  • Unless new head coach Joe Judge sways him in a different direction, Giants GM Dave Gettleman is expected to look at edge-rushers, left tackles, and wide receivers with the No. 4 pick. “He can’t help himself with linemen, so slot your top-rated offensive tackle there,” one scout who previously worked with Gettleman said. Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr. and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas rank among the top tackles in this year’s crop.
  • No team has done more work on Oregon’s Justin Herbert than the Dolphins, who own the No. 5 pick and two more selections later on, Miller writes. The Dolphins will almost certainly go QB here, then shift their attention to offensive tackle, edge-rusher, and running back help.
  • The same source who tipped Miller off to the Cardinals‘ love of Kyler Murray last year says they’re wild about Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. But, internally, they also feel that the offensive line need is too big to overlook.
  • The Raiders, with two picks in the first round, are looking to go defense and wide receiver, Miller hears.
  • The Bills are already nervous about other teams leapfrogging them for wide receivers, Miller hears. The Bills own the No. 22 overall pick and nine total selections in the draft.
  • The Patriots are impossible to read, but none of Miller’s sources believe that they’ll draft a quarterback early on. Tom Brady has vowed to continue playing, but he’ll also explore his options in free agency.

Chase Young Enters NFL Draft

January 3rd, 2020 at 12:11pm CST by Zachary Links

Ohio State star Chase Young has officially declared for the 2020 NFL Draft. The superstar edge rusher figures to be one of the very first players selected in April. 

Young is widely regarded as the top overall talent in this year’s class. If the Bengals select Joe Burrow or another quarterback at No. 1, he’ll be there for the Redskins and new head coach Ron Rivera at No. 2.

Young, listed at 6’5″ and 265 pounds, has been on an absolute tear at Ohio State. This year, he finished out with 16.5 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss in just 12 games. He was suspended for two games by the NCAA after he was found to have taken a loan from a family friend that he later paid back, but that didn’t slow him down much. That incident won’t have any bearing on his draft stock, either.

Talent evaluators have been salivating over Young for years. He arrived on campus in 2017 as a top recruit out of DeMatha Catholic High School and made noise right off the bat. Then, in 2018, he broke out with 10.5 sacks and major stops against some of Ohio State’s biggest rivals.

The Lions, Giants, and Dolphins round out the top five in the draft.

Chase Young Facing Indefinite Suspension

November 8th, 2019 at 9:58am CST by Zachary Links

Ohio State star Chase Young is facing an indefinite suspension, as first reported by Austin Ward of Lettermen Row. The Heisman Trophy candidate’s collegiate career could be over, which means that he can turn his attention to preparing for the 2020 NFL Draft, where he’s expected to be a Top 3 selection.

The school did not disclose details, but Young gave some clarity on his situation in a statement on Friday morning:

“Unfortunately, I won’t be playing this week because of an NCAA eligibility issue. I made a mistake last year by accepting a loan from a family friend I’ve know since the summer before my freshman year at OSU. I repaid it in full last summer and I’m working with the University and NCAA to get back on the field as soon as possible. I want to thank my family, teammates, coaches, and the whole Ohio State community for all the love and support. God bless and go Bucks!”

However, the “family friend” that Young referenced in his statement is actually an NFLPA-certified agent, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. That obviously casts this story into an entirely different light, though as Florio notes, this development could ultimately be more problematic for the agent than for Young.

Young, listed at 6’5″ and 265 pounds, has been on an absolute tear this season with 13.5 sacks and 29 total tackles through eight games. He’s met – or exceeded – every expectation after a breakout 2018 sophomore campaign with 10.5 sacks and major plays against some of the school’s biggest rivals.

If the season ended today, the Bengals would have the first crack at Young, followed by the Redskins, Jets, Dolphins, and Falcons. It’s unclear whether Young’s draft stock will fall because of his decision to accept a loan from an agent, though that seems unlikely.