Chase Young Says It 'Would Definitely Be an Honor' to Play for the Redskins

Former Ohio State defensive end Chase Young is fine with mock drafts that have him going No. 2 overall to Washington in next week's 2020 NFL draft.  

"It would definitely be an honor to play at home," Young told ABC 7 News' Scott Abraham on Thursday. "Not a lot of people get the opportunity to play for their hometown football team. God willing, He give me the chance to do it, then—like any team I go to—I'm gonna be the best player I can be."

Young is from Maryland and played high school football at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, before attending Ohio State. DeMatha Catholic is just 15 minutes away from FedEx Field.

If Washington does take Young at No. 2, it will be the second straight year that the organization has drafted an Ohio State product with ties to Maryland. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who the team took at No. 15 overall in 2019, was a 2018 Heisman finalist who played at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, before excelling at OSU.

Young is considered by many, including Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, to be the best overall prospect despite the expectation that reigning Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow will go No. 1 overall to the quarterback-needy Cincinnati Bengals.

The 21-year-old set the Buckeyes' all-time single-season record with 16.5 sacks as a junior last year, and he did so while having to serve a controversial two-game suspension for accepting a loan from a family friend.

Young's play speaks for itself, and he showed his belief in his ability by opting out of working out at February's combine:

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein likened Young to three-time All-Pro Julius Peppers, who went second overall to the Carolina Panthers in 2002:

"Elite size, length and athleticism created loads of production and a vaulted pro projection, but Young's set of disruptive properties have yet to be fully weaponized. He's fairly basic as a pass rusher, with just a couple of go-to moves and an occasional inside counter, and yet he still managed 16.5 sacks in 2019. He has the traits to overwhelm many of the tackles he faces, and it won't take long for teams to add a bull-rush, a rip-and-run and a stab counter into his repertoire. He plays a little upright at the point of attack, and his ball awareness is below average, but those concerns aren't enough to counterbalance his range and agility as a run defender. Young possesses superior traits and the ability to wreck and alter offensive game-plans as a perennial All-Pro."

Washington's defense ranked 10th in sacks (46.0) last season, with Matthew Ioannidis leading the way at 8.5 sacks. The team finished with a 3-13 record for its third straight losing season.

Young told ESPN's Get Up this week that he is most looking forward to sacking reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, and Washington is scheduled to host the Baltimore Ravens next season:

Whether Young will get that chance and help turn things around for Washington in 2020 will be unveiled on April 23.