Mel Kiper Reacts to Rumors of This Fringe 1st-Rounder Competing with Bain Jr., Mesidor in NFL Draft

Missouri edge-rusher Zion Young might be gaining some ground on he competition in the 2026 NFL draft, according to ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.

The legendary draft guru said Thursday that Young "has a lot of fans around the league" and could be a big winner if he impresses evaluators at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Kiper posited the first-team All-SEC honoree could even leapfrog Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor.

That would be quite the jump for Young, who's the No. 38 overall player and sixth-best edge-rusher on Bleacher Report's big board. B/R NFL scout Matt Holder compared him to Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson, a top-10 pick in 2023.

Holder said Young is "decent at setting the edge and running his feet to avoid getting reached against the run" and possesses "solid power and leg drive as a pass-rusher to occasionally collapse the pocket when bull rushing or turning speed to power."

The 6'5", 262-pound defender had a breakout senior season with the Tigers. He finished with 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss, having combined for five and 12, respectively, across his first three years.

Bain has generally been considered the best pass-rusher and one of the top prospects in the 2026 class. He amassed 20.5 sacks in three years with the Hurricanes, and their College Football Playoff run was a great showcase for he and Mesidor.

But players rise and fall during every draft cycle. Perhaps Young not only solidifies his status as a first-round talent but challenges Bain for the distinction of being the first edge-rusher off the board.