Zion Young Scouting Report
Zion Young is a versatile, alignment-flexible defensive lineman who can be a high-end contributor as both a run defender and a pass rusher for a defense.
Draft Grade: Round 2 – Winning Starter
Strengths:
Prototype Size: Young has great overall length and mass for a defensive lineman, allowing him to be a versatile movement piece along the defensive front and effective in multiple positions.
Athleticism: Even at a listed 6-foot-5 and 262 pounds, Young shows good straight-line speed, lateral agility, and reactionary athleticism. These traits help him both get to the quarterback to generate pressure and pursue ball carriers in the run game.
Strength and Power: Young has natural, raw power that he uses to be dominant in the run game, whether setting the edge or holding the point of attack as an interior defensive lineman. His power also shows up as a pass rusher when he uses a long arm or bull rush to collapse the pocket.
Scheme/Alignment Versatility: Young’s length and size give him the ability to be an effective hand-in-the-ground defensive end or a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. He can align at multiple positions and has the physical tools to win.
Physical Temperament: Young plays with a violent, tone-setting temperament in the trenches, making him a difficult player to block in the run game.
Concerns:
Sack Production: Young has had limited sack production over his four-year career at Missouri—2025’s 6.5 sacks represented his most productive year. This brings into question whether he has the elite first step or pass-rush repertoire to be relied upon in the NFL to be a team’s No. 1 option to get sacks.
Lack of Counter Moves: Young needs to develop more counter moves to his arsenal. As of now, if Young’s initial pass-rush move gets stopped, his main go-to move is to continue to work power, which won’t be effective against most tackles in the NFL.