For a majority of the college football season, Ohio State defensive end was considered a potential No. 1 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. But with the way the year ended for LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, it almost became a lock that the Cincinnati Bengals would go with the Heisman Trophy winner with the top pick.

Most of that was attributed to Burrow’s incredible season, leading LSU to an undefeated season, throwing 60 touchdown passes and completing over 76 percent of his passes. It was a year unlike any we’ve seen in college football.

But Mel Kiper Jr. doesn’t attribute Burrow’s rise, and Young’s fall, simply to the LSU quarterback. He believes Young had a chance to make a legitimate case to be the No. 1 overall selection in late April, but his performance in the final three games hurt his chances.

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“Chase Young didn’t finish strong,” Kiper said on Get Up. “The last three games, he didn’t have a sack. He was not a game-breaker. Had he been, I contend that he could have been in the discussion for the Bengals. How can you pass on this guy who had a couple sacks in each of the last three games or was out there dominating. But he didn’t.

“That made Cincinnati’s decision easier. At (No.) 2 now, all of a sudden Chase Young would have been automatic for the Redskins if they feel good about [Dwayne] Haskins. Now, that’s probably not the case.”

Kiper said earlier this week on First Take that he believes Washington should take Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the second pick.

Young finished the season with 16.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and was named the B1G Defensive Player of the Year. He was also one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy.

But Young’s inability to put up big numbers in wins over Michigan, Wisconsin and Clemson may have cost the defensive end the No. 1 overall pick. At least that’s what Kiper believes.