2020 NFL Draft Big Board: Ranking the Top 10 EDGE defenders

As by-far the most qualified and generally agreed upon number one edge in the 2020 NFL draft, Chase Young has generated a plethora of avid supporters for his play on the gridiron. With a unique combination of quickness and strength, Young is a rarely-seen breed of pass-rusher who can use either of the two skill sets in his possession.

Young’s go-to pass-rush is a speed rush to the outside, beating tackles to the spot and bending the corner using his great anticipation of the snap as well as is elite burst off of the line of scrimmage. Once Young has beaten his opponent to the edge, he uses his hip-bend to curve the rush inside to the quarterback and wreak havoc.

If Young is unable to beat the tackle to the spot, he is more than comfortable using a counter-chop to keep tackles hands out of his chest and still gets to the edge.

Young’s second option in the pass-rush is his power rush using a combination of strength and pass-rush moves to beat his opponent to the inside. Young is still quick off of the line of scrimmage and can beat a tackle to his chest. Once he is inside, Young uses the swim move perfectly to shed blocks and work his way to inside leverage. Once he is on the inside hip of a tackle, he is already in the face of the quarterback and generating pressure.

This combination of pass-rush styles creates a mismatch that tackles are unable to prepare for. Snap by snap, Young is able to judge which approach will serve him best depending upon his opponent and has the talent to capitalize.