Draft offers great promise

How did you grade the Redskins 2020 NFL Draft class? Does it really matter. It’s impossible to fairly judge a draft class even two years after they are selected, never mind two weeks or months.

- Chris Russell

We just simply don’t know and that’s okay. We can hope. They say hope springs eternal.

If the Redskins didn’t hit a grand slam with Chase Young, the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft, everyone is going to feel the repercussions. Young is the all-everything, complete package out of Ohio State via Upper Marlboro, Md. He’s home. Hopefully for good. Hopefully, he’s great.

Former Redskins General Manager Scot McCloughan compared Young to the legendary Reggie White before the draft. Before you cringe at the lofty comparison, McCloughan, who still runs his “Instinctive Scouting” service for a few NFL teams, mentioned the late White because of what he thinks Young will become body type and the role he’ll play.

First the role. McCloughan said Young “can be a 4-3 base end, meaning Reggie White was a base end.” Some players have to be played in rotation to keep them fresh and more importantly, because they are only good at one element, stopping the run or getting after the passer.

McCloughan said of Young being a base end, “It means he doesn’t have to come off the field. He has attributes to rush the passer and he has attributes to play the run.” Young “can rush the passer from the inside or outside and playing the run means he makes plays inside or outside,” in McCloughan’s eyes.

Young also has the ability to bulk up to about 275280 pounds and still maintain his explosiveness. And he might even get taller, too.