Not to be confused with the Alabama defensive end of the same name, Tennessee’s Byron Young is a breakout defensive tackle prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft. Finally fulfilling his potential in his senior season on Rocky Top, Young is a high-energy pass rusher who should be a rotational player at minimum. However, his advanced age may cause some to question how much more development is left.
Byron Young Draft Profile
College: Tennessee
Age: 25
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 245
Strengths
One of the SEC’s breakout stars last season, Young is an edge burner with a frantic playing style. He shows very good get-off at the snap and fires around the arc, eating up ground quickly thanks to good speed and the flexibility to corner effectively.
He has good length for the outside. He piled up QB pressures last season, and his high-effort style puts him around the ball frequently. As a run defender, he’ll grind to set the edge and has the willingness and athleticism to chase down plays in pursuit.
Weaknesses
Young falls into a lot of good-but-not-quite-great categories when it comes to his physical traits; he’s slightly undersized, with above-average speed and bend, and little experience playing in space as a zone-dropper. The fact that he’s overaged — he’ll already be 25 on draft day — and unlikely to develop much more physically puts a cap on his ceiling.
Summary
Young is a high-motor edge defender who was productive in the SEC and has just enough physical ability to make an impact in the NFL. He’ll stick around as long as he is a contributor on special teams, but he most likely tops out as a rotational end and pass-rush specialist.
Final Grade: 4th/5th Round
(This profile is one of more than 200 featured in the Athlon Sports 2023 NFL Draft Guide. With in-depth scouting reports on the top prospects, position rankings, and more, no source will have you better prepared for draft day. Purchase a copy online today, download the digital edition for instant access, or look for it on newsstands everywhere.)
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Publish Date:2023-04-29 10:23:36
