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The Washington Football Team has been completely devoid of elite talent in recent years, but that immediately changed following the 2020 NFL draft.

Washington selected star defensive end Chase Young out of Ohio State with the No. 2 overall pick in April. Young was heralded as the most talented player in the 2020 class leading up to the draft, and he’s already exceeding expectations in his rookie season. Washington may have found the next Reggie White in Young.

NFL teams were salivating over Chase Young out of college

NFL general managers from all across the league fell in love with Chase Young from the second he saw the field at Ohio State. And how could they not? Young is a 6-foot-5, 264-pound beast who also had the most athleticism of any pass-rusher in the 2020 draft class.

Over the course of his college career, Young totaled 30.5 sacks, 40.5 tackles for loss, and nine forced fumbles. He exploded for 16.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles in just 12 games as a junior.

Young was regarded as the best all-around player available in the 2020 NFL draft, but he didn’t go No. 1 overall because the Cincinnati Bengals were in dire need of a franchise quarterback. The Ohio State product slipped to Washington at No. 2, and he’s been well worth the hype so far.

Chase Young already looks like a superstar

Chase Young has only played 12 games in the NFL, but it’s already evident he’s a future Pro Bowler at defensive end. Very few defensive players can singlehandedly swing a game for their team, but Young has already proven he can be one of them.

Through 12 games of his career, Young has racked up 5.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and eight QB hits. He’s also forced three fumbles and recovered one this season.

Young is coming off the most impressive performance of his young career. He recorded a sack, six combined tackles, two QB hits, two passes defended, a forced fumble, and a 47-yard fumble return for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday. In a game in which Washington didn’t score a single offensive touchdown, the Football Team still cruised to an eight-point victory because of the dominant performance by Young and the defense.

The Washington Football Team may have found the next Reggie White

Chase Young isn’t just a promising rookie. He’s special. He has an elite combination of size, speed, and athleticism that only the legends of the game possessed. His potential is limitless.

It’s possible the Football Team has found the NFL’s next Reggie White. White played 15 seasons in the league and recorded 198 career sacks. He’s widely regarded as the greatest pass-rusher to ever step foot on the NFL field. One day, Young could be discussed in Canton, Ohio among White and the other all-time greats.

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference

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Staff Writer

Jack Dougherty

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

When Jack isn’t writing about sports, he’s watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He’s also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.