Todd McShay explains why Chase Young still the best prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft

It’s not likely that Chase Young is taken with the first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. With the quarterback position running the league, picking Joe Burrow, the hometown kid, feels almost too good to pass up for the worst team in the NFL last year.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that Burrow is the best player available in this year’s draft class, though. And, in fact, ESPN’s Todd McShay believes that title belongs to Young, who dominated the defensive side of the football in 2019.

Young finished the season as the B1G Defensive Player of the Year, All-American honors and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He was labeled a game-wrecker and was one of the most difficult players to prepare for in college football.

“Chase Young is the best talent in this year’s class, the defensive end from Ohio State,” McShay said on SportsCenter. “If he doesn’t go one — and I don’t think he’ll go one, I think the Bengals are going to take Joe Burrow, the LSU quarterback — I think Young goes two to the Redskins. And I don’t think the Redskins will move out because they love him that much.”

Young did not participate in on-field drills at last week’s NFL Scouting Combine, taking part in only interviews and medical exams. He’s been regarded as one of the top talents in the class after recording 21.5 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks and forcing six fumbles last season.

Mel Kiper Jr. said last week that he believes Washington should take Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the No. 2 pick, citing the franchise needs another quarterback — even though Dwayne Haskins was selected in the first round last year. But McShay doesn’t agree.

Young is almost a sure thing to be successful in the NFL, so it’s going to be hard to pass on him if he’s available at the No. 2 spot. But there’s still over a month until the draft, and plenty can change in that time.