Byron Younger scouting report: Tennessee pass-rusher may be the most important sleeper in a proficient EDGE class

The NFL has an insatiable starvation for go rushers. Groups know that they not solely want a number of go rushers to fight trendy offenses, however they should be athletic freaks. So what if I advised 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 through which he totaled 7 sacks and 12 tackles for a loss. Regardless of these spectacular numbers, he solely ranks ninety fifth on the Consensus Massive Board.

In case you’re in search of a participant who’s flying underneath the radar however may 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 decide within the 2023 NFL Draft. For full protection of the Byron Younger decide, head over to Turf Present Instances.

The great 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 leap. For comparability, 6’1, 238-pound go rusher Haason Reddick had a 4.52-second 40 (1.59-second 10-yard break up) and 37.5-inch vert. Go rusher Micah Parsons had a 1.59 10-yard, 36-inch vertical, and 10’6 broad leap.

That’s a number of numbers, however the principle takeaway is that Younger is greater and extra explosive than two of probably the most harmful go rushers within the NFL proper now.

Younger isn’t only a linear athlete, he can nook as effectively. He has a really fluid decrease physique, letting him get bend and carry that velocity across the edge whereas additionally enjoying with leverage. That skill to bend the sting is what units the great go rushers other than the pack and makes them a headache for offensive tackles. He’s even capable of get up and drop into protection, and look pure whereas doing so.

Put merely, Younger was good for at the least one “WOW” play each recreation.

His fundamental strengths are velocity, explosiveness, fluidity, play power, and aggressive toughness.

The negatives about EDGE Byron Younger

Most of Younger’s draw back comes from his age. He’s had a protracted street to the NFL, working as a supervisor at Greenback Common earlier than strolling on to the soccer group at Georgia Army Faculty in 2019. He didn’t play in 2020 on account of COVID-19 lockdowns, however a video of his follow highlights went viral and he was supplied a scholarship by Tennessee in 2021.

Younger is 25, but solely has two years of main school expertise. His inexperience reveals up in his recreation, as he’s clearly nonetheless studying the best way to use his spectacular instruments.

He nonetheless must develop an array of go rush strikes to maximise his athletic traits and neutralize blockers’ palms. From there, he’ll have to learn to rush with a plan over the course of a recreation. Likewise, Younger can lose monitor of the ball within the backfield, slowing his play velocity whereas he processes and will get in pursuit of the ball service.

Byron Younger’s analysis constructed on upside

The excellent news is that whereas Younger is “uncooked” and “previous” 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 info rapidly. He wasn’t closely recruited out of highschool, needed to stroll on on the JuCo stage, and needed to promote himself to get a significant school scholarship. It’s a protected wager that he’ll put within the work to maximise his NFL alternative.

His points are solely with method, and he may completely blossom underneath the tutelage of a very good place coach. NFL groups wager 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 technique of studying the best way to play his place. His rush palms lack talent and he’s lacking go-to counters, however that could possibly 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 method and construct out a cohesive rush strategy. He will probably be a 25-year-old rookie with an absence of polish for his age, which could possibly be a deterrent for some groups, however a completely fueled motor and powerful need to make performs on the opposite facet of the road of scrimmage give him a shot to grow to be a succesful professional.

In the meantime, an AFC regional scout stated,

“He actually appreciates each second he’s on the sphere and our coaches would love that. He most likely finally ends up standing, however I believe he’ll be higher with a hand within the floor.”

Byron Younger may not be a first-round decide, although his athletic upside normally calls for that type of consideration. His technical points, and significantly 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.