Chase Young is widely viewed as the best prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft Class, and now he'll join a defensive line with four former first-round picks in Washington.
Combine those two factors, and it's not surprising that many expect the No. 2 overall pick to dominate in 2020.
NFL.com recently published its top 25 rookies in the best position for success in 2020, and while quarterback Joe Burrow was the first player drafted, he comes in second place on this list behind Young.
"Widely considered the best player in the draft, Young joins a defensive line that was already loaded with former first-round picks in Jonathan Allen, Ryan Kerrigan, Daron Payne and Montez Sweat. That talent is going to create opportunities for him and vice versa," wrote NFL.com editor Dan Parr. "NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah has likened the 6-5, 264-pound freak off the edge to Julius Peppers and Mario Williams. Enough said."
Jeremiah is far from the only one to place sky-high expectations on the 21-year-old edge rusher. Redskins wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who played with Young at Ohio State, said he could be better than fellow Buckeyes Joey and Nick Bosa, each of whom won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said that in Young, the Redskins are getting "arguably the most talented guy to go to the NFL in quite a while."
Other Redskins were also ecstatic about Young's arrival. Pro Bowl safety Landon Collins immediately started clapping when he heard the news, while cornerback Kendall Fuller said Young is one of those players who is a "once-in-a-generation talent."
Even defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, who prefers to avoid discussing potential, could not help but gush over his newest pass-rusher.
"The best toolbox I've ever seen coming out of the draft," Del Rio said during the Redskins Virtual Draft Party. "I haven't seen a guy come out with that many tools. I've seen talented players come out, but not with a complete toolbox like he has."
Head coach Ron Rivera always viewed Young as the pick at No. 2, and for good reason. The Redskins now have the odds-on favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year lining up with first-round picks from 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2011, and that's not even including the team's reigning sack leader Matt Ioannidis.
The San Francisco 49ers advanced to the Super Bowl last season in large part because of their relentless pass-rush, which was elevated to another level with the selection of Nick Bosa with the No. 2 pick.
Young could have a similar impact along the Redskins' defensive front as Rivera attempts to build his newest franchise into a consistent winner.
