Chase Young Says He's 'The Best Player in the Draft' at 2020 NFL Combine
February 27, 2020
Ohio State defensive end Chase Young said Thursday he's the top prospect in the 2020 NFL draft class.
"I definitely think I'm the best player in the draft," Young told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. "I think I showed on my tape, you can look at every game, I think I showed [it]. I think I put my best foot forward this year. ... I think I bring a lot to the table, the whole package as a defensive end."
The 20-year-old Maryland native explained he's not planning to do any activities at the combine and will only do positional drills at the Buckeyes' pro day March 25, so he won't do any athletic testing—such as running the 40-yard dash—during the predraft process.
"That first day at [training] camp, when I step on the field, I want to be the best player I can be. I don't want to waste time trying to be a combine athlete," Young said. "I need to know I put my best foot forward trying to be the best player I can be."
The 6'5'', 264-pound edge-rusher enjoyed a breakout 2018 season with 10.5 sacks and parlayed that into a monster 2019 campaign. He racked up 46 total tackles, 16.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and three passes defended across 12 appearances as a junior before declaring for the draft.
He's got all the tools to become an immediate three-down force at the NFL level.
"I feel I can do everything. I'll do anything a team needs me to do," Young said Thursday. "If they want me to move in to three tech and rush the passer, outside, stand up, I can do it. Drop back, check tight ends, check the back, I can do it. Play linebacker, I can do it. I feel like I'm going to come in with that mindset."
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller ranks him as the No. 1 overall player in the 2020 class.
He's unlikely to come off the board first, though. The need for franchise quarterbacks around the league outweighs all other factors in the draft, which means LSU's Joe Burrow is a virtual lock to hear his name called as the choice of the Cincinnati Bengals when the draft gets underway April 23 in Las Vegas.
Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa could go second, especially if the Washington Redskins are offered a king's ransom by a QB-needy team to move down a spot or two.
So Young could still be on the board at No. 3, but his impact on the 2020 NFL season has a good chance to exceed all of his fellow prospects, including the high-profile quarterbacks.