The NFL has an insatiable starvation for move rushers. Groups know that they not solely want a number of move rushers to fight trendy offenses, however they should be athletic freaks. So what if I instructed you that there’s an edge defender within the 2023 NFL Draft that’s so athletic at 6’2, 250 kilos, that he ranks within the 98th percentile amongst cornerbacks?
Tennessee EDGE Byron Younger placed on an absolute present on the 2023 NFL Scouting Mix. He’s additionally coming off of a breakout season wherein he totaled 7 sacks and 12 tackles for a loss. Regardless of these spectacular numbers, he solely ranks ninety fifth on the Consensus Large Board.
When you’re in search of a participant who’s flying beneath the radar however might make GMs look foolish for passing on him, Younger would possibly simply be that man.
2023 NFL Draft Choice
The Los Angeles Rams chosen Bryon Younger with the No. 77 choose within the 2023 NFL Draft. For full protection of the Byron Younger choose, head over to Turf Present Occasions.
The nice issues about EDGE Byron Younger
Straight to the purpose: Byron Younger is an athletic freak. At 6’2, 250 kilos, Younger ran a blazing 4.43-second 40-yard sprint (1.54-second 10-yard break up), had a 38-inch vertical leap, and an 11-foot broad soar. For comparability, 6’1, 238-pound move rusher Haason Reddick had a 4.52-second 40 (1.59-second 10-yard break up) and 37.5-inch vert. Move rusher Micah Parsons had a 1.59 10-yard, 36-inch vertical, and 10’6 broad soar.
That’s quite a lot of numbers, however the principle takeaway is that Younger is larger and extra explosive than two of probably the most harmful move rushers within the NFL proper now.
Younger isn’t only a linear athlete, he can nook as nicely. He has a really fluid decrease physique, letting him get bend and carry that velocity across the edge whereas additionally taking part in with leverage. That skill to bend the sting is what units the great move rushers other than the pack and makes them a headache for offensive tackles. He’s even in a position to arise and drop into protection, and look pure whereas doing so.
Put merely, Younger was good for at the very least one “WOW” play each sport.
His important strengths are velocity, explosiveness, fluidity, play energy, and aggressive toughness.
The negatives about EDGE Byron Younger
Most of Younger’s draw back comes from his age. He’s had an extended highway to the NFL, working as a supervisor at Greenback Common earlier than strolling on to the soccer group at Georgia Navy Faculty in 2019. He didn’t play in 2020 resulting from COVID-19 lockdowns, however a video of his observe highlights went viral and he was provided a scholarship by Tennessee in 2021.
Younger is 25, but solely has two years of main school expertise. His inexperience reveals up in his sport, as he’s clearly nonetheless studying tips on how to use his spectacular instruments.
He nonetheless must develop an array of move rush strikes to maximise his athletic traits and neutralize blockers’ arms. From there, he’ll must discover ways to rush with a plan over the course of a sport. Likewise, Younger can lose observe of the ball within the backfield, slowing his play velocity whereas he processes and will get in pursuit of the ball provider.
Byron Younger’s analysis constructed on upside
The excellent news is that whereas Younger is “uncooked” and “outdated” as a prospect, he has stable a basis upon which he can construct. His athletic upside is self-evident, he has a wide-open motor, and appears to course of data rapidly. He wasn’t closely recruited out of highschool, needed to stroll on on the JuCo degree, and needed to promote himself to get a significant school scholarship. It’s a protected guess that he’ll put within the work to maximise his NFL alternative.
His points are solely with approach, and he might completely blossom beneath the tutelage of place coach. NFL groups guess on upside on a regular basis, and Byron Younger is totally dripping with it.
What they’re saying
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote of Younger,
An explosive edge defender with disruptive play qualities, Younger continues to be within the means of studying tips on how to play his place. His rush arms lack talent and he’s lacking go-to counters, however that may very well be coachable for him. He creates chaos when utilizing his twitchy first step to slant and twist however nonetheless must tune up the stack-and-shed approach and construct out a cohesive rush method. He will likely be a 25-year-old rookie with an absence of polish for his age, which may very well be a deterrent for some groups, however a totally fueled motor and robust want to make performs on the opposite facet of the road of scrimmage give him a shot to develop into a succesful professional.
In the meantime, an AFC regional scout stated,
“He actually appreciates each second he’s on the sector and our coaches would love that. He most likely finally ends up standing, however I feel he’ll be higher with a hand within the floor.”
Byron Younger won’t be a first-round choose, although his athletic upside normally calls for that type of consideration. His technical points, and notably his age, will maintain him again within the eyes of groups. Nevertheless, I’ve him rated as a excessive second-round prospect in my full scouting report and his upside deserves to be drafted earlier than the shut of the second spherical.
