DynastySignal Scouting Report: Zion Young

Position: EDGE | School: Missouri | Class: 2026 Draft

The Short Version

Zion Young is a length-and-speed EDGE rusher with elite physical tools — 6'5 1/8" and 33" arms — who backs up his frame with legitimate SEC production: 48 pressures, 8 sacks, and 2025 All-SEC First Team honors. The case for him is simple: you cannot teach that frame, those arms, or that first step, and he showed a 24.5% pass rush win rate against SEC offensive tackles. The case against is that he's light at 255 pounds, his missed tackle rate (18.2%) is a genuine problem, and his counter-move repertoire is still underdeveloped — he wins with his first move or he doesn't win at all. For dynasty, he's a high-upside developmental EDGE who could hit like a mid-round steal if he adds functional mass and polishes his technique.

Measurables & Background

| Attribute | Value |

|---|---|

| Height | 6'5 1/8" |

| Weight | 255 lbs |

| Arm Length | 33" |

| School | Missouri |

| Conference | SEC |

| Honors | 2025 All-SEC, 1st Team |

| Stop Rate | 8.5% |

| TFL | 16.5 |

| Forced Fumbles | 2 |

| Sacks | 8 |

| Pressures | 48 |

| Pass Rush Win Rate | 24.5% (true passing sets) |

| Missed Tackle Rate | 18.2% |

Film Sources Reviewed

| Source | Prefix | Frames | Key Content |

|---|---|---|---|

| The NFL Film Room — Zion Young College Football Highlights | film_ | 18 | Broadcast-angle highlights vs. Alabama, South Carolina, Kansas, Mississippi State, Auburn. Best frames for run defense and pressure plays. |

| Cheesehead TV — CHTV 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: DE Zion Young | highlights_ | 18 | Scout-style breakdown with measurables/stats card (frames 004–018); confirms key measurables. Intro/commentary frames 001–003 lack film. |

| JWAC Gridiron — Zion Young SETS A HARD EDGE! | highlights_2_ | 19 | All-22 and endzone angles; best source for pre-snap alignment, stance, first-step timing, rush path, and technique details. |

What The Film Shows

Pass Rush Moves — **B+**

Young's primary weapon is an outside speed rush leveraged off his 33" arms. He fires off the snap, presses the OT's outside shoulder, and converts speed to power using a long-arm extension that keeps blockers from locking into his body. At his best, he dips the inside shoulder and bends the corner with legitimate flexibility — highlights_2_012 is the clearest example of this, showing his shoulders tilted inside the arc as he's turning the corner and threatening the QB's launch point. He has at least one functional counter: an inside rip/swim after threatening outside (highlights_2_010, highlights_2_013), but it's inconsistent and telegraphed — experienced OTs will pick it up at the next level. Pad level is an issue on contact reps; when he gets into a blocker's chest (highlights_2_011), he's slightly upright, which gives the OT a chance to anchor and reset the engagement. The tools are there for a legitimate pass rush repertoire, but right now he's a one-and-a-half-move rusher.

First Step & Motor — **A-**

His get-off is the best thing on film. Across the all-22 frames (highlights_2_001, highlights_2_002, highlights_2_008), he consistently beats the OT's initial punch and gains depth off the snap before the blocker can fully establish position. Film room observers noted this too — he's upfield before tackles can set their feet. Motor is also evident: highlights_2_003 shows him chasing a play to the backside near the goal line, running a flat pursuit angle rather than loafing. Multiple frames (film_010, highlights_2_017) show him in the tackle pile having run from the opposite edge. He competes until the whistle, which will play well at the NFL level when he's not the primary rusher on a given snap.

Run Defense — **C+**

This is the biggest concern on film and in the numbers. Young sets the edge well in gap-control situations — film_006 shows him maintaining outside leverage with proper alignment in a goal-line look, and highlights_2_002 shows disciplined contain responsibility against a run flowing to his side. He reads run quickly and doesn't crash inside carelessly. However, at 255 pounds, he's getting doubled and rerouted against SEC offensive tackles who can chip or overtake him (film_003, film_007). The 18.2% missed tackle rate compounds the problem: he doesn't always finish when he gets to ball carriers in space. He's a functional edge setter in a scheme that doesn't ask him to anchor two-gap, but if an NFL team tries to use him as a true every-down base DE, they're going to expose the run defense issues early. His NFL role, at least initially, is a speed/sub-package rusher.

Length & Power — **B**

The 6'5" frame and 33" arms are premium. Length is visible in every frame — he can extend and prevent OTs from getting into his chest (highlights_2_007 sideline shot makes the arm length obvious even in a casual walking shot). He uses those arms well enough on pass rush to keep himself clean. Power is functional but not dominant; he can convert speed to power with decent effect (film_009, film_011), but he's not going to overpower anyone. The weight tells the story — at 255, he doesn't have the mass to throw blockers off his frame or to two-gap against double teams. The good news: his frame appears to have room to add functional weight. A 265–270 lb Young in Year 2 would meaningfully change his run defense profile without necessarily costing him his speed.

Versatility — **B-**

Film shows him aligned in both a two-point stand-up EDGE stance (highlights_2_001, highlights_2_004, highlights_2_007, highlights_2_008) and a three-point hand-down alignment (highlights_2_011 vs. Auburn). Missouri used him across both sides of the formation — he's not a one-trick-pony who only aligns on the right side. He played in four-down fronts and two-point 3-4 OLB looks, which gives him legitimate versatility to fit multiple NFL schemes. He doesn't appear to have been asked to drop into coverage, which is a gap in his scouting profile — if an NFL team needs a chess piece who can cover flats or linebackers, he's not that. But as a two-down EDGE who can also contribute on obvious passing downs in a specialized rush role, the alignment versatility is a real asset.

Strengths Summary

Concerns & Risks

NFL Comp

Primary Comp: Yannick Ngakoue (draft profile)

Similar body type — speed-first, length-reliant EDGE who uses his frame to keep blockers off and fires around the corner. Ngakoue was 6'2", 246 at his draft — Young has significantly more length at 6'5" and 33" arms, which gives him the better measurables profile. Both prospect types win on first-move quickness and need to develop their counter game to sustain production. Ngakoue was a 3rd-round pick who became a productive NFL starter. Young's path is similar: immediate value as a situational rusher who grows into a starter if the run defense and counter game develop.

Secondary Comp: Nik Bonitto (2022 class)

Bonitto came out of Oklahoma at 6'3", 243 pounds — also a raw, speed-first EDGE with elite first-step quickness and legitimate SEC-adjacent (Big 12) production, but questions about his run-stopping ability and whether he'd be an every-down player. He's also comparable in terms of the development arc: Bonitto has grown into a valuable starter in Denver as he's added strength and technique. Young is longer and played in a tougher conference, which gives him a slight edge in the comp.

Bottom Line

Zion Young is a dynasty-targeted EDGE with rare physical tools — the 6'5"/255/33" profile doesn't come around often, and the SEC production confirms he's already using those tools effectively. The floor is a productive situational rusher on passing downs who rotates in on third downs and contributes to a defensive front's pass rush package; that's a 5–7-year NFL career and a solid IDP pick. The ceiling is a legitimate starting EDGE in a 4-3 or hybrid defense who generates 10+ sacks per season once he adds weight and refines his counter game — Ngakoue-level production is realistic. The 2026 draft class at EDGE is not historically deep, which helps his stock. Draft him in rookie drafts as a Day 2 value who won't start Week 1 but should be a rotational piece in Year 1 and competing for a starting role by Year 2.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 72/100

Projected Pick: R2, Pick 45-60

Film Score: 72 / 100

Scout 2 Report: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

The Short Version

Zion Young is a long, powerful run-stuffer who sets the edge like a vice, but his pass rush is one-dimensional power without the bend or counters to dominate islands. Contrarian take: Hype around his 24.5% win rate ignores volume and scheme help – he's a Day 2 run-first pro, not an every-down disruptor.

Measurables & Background

| Trait | Value |

|----------------|--------------------|

| Height | 6'5" |

| Weight | 255 lbs |

| Arm Length | 33" |

| Age (2026 Draft) | ~21 (RS Sophomore/Junior) |

| Hometown | Miami, FL |

| 2025 Stats (est.) | 16.6% Press Rate, 8.5% Stop Rate, All-SEC 1st Team |

| Background | JUCO transfer to Missouri, exploded in SEC with double-digit TFLs/sacks vs Power 4 competition. |

Film Sources

| Source | Duration | Frame Prefix | Focus |

|---------------------------------|----------|----------------|------------------------|

| NFL Film Room Highlights | 5:32 | film_ (18) | General production reel |

| Cheesehead TV Scouting Report | 6:56 | highlights_ (37) | Stats-heavy breakdown |

| JWAC Gridiron "SETS A HARD EDGE"| 7:59 | highlights_2_ (19) | Run defense emphasis |

Film Analysis

Overall Grade: B (Solid starter traits with power edge, but athletic limitations cap ceiling).

Strengths

Concerns

Dynasty Outlook (1-3 Year Window)

Year 1: Rotational 5-tech/RE in 3-4 or base 4-3 (e.g., Steelers, Packers). 4-6 sacks, elite run D. Year 2: Full-time starter, 7-9 sacks if scheme fits. Year 3: Pro Bowl potential as power edge if adds 1-2 moves; bust risk if pass rush stalls. Fits gap-control fronts, not bend-heavy schemes.

NFL Comp

Bottom Line

Young's a plug-and-play run defender Day 1, but betting on pass rush upside is optimistic – grab in mid-R2 for teams needing edge beef, fade if chasing sacks.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 82/100

Projected Pick: R2, Pick 40-60

Film Score: 82 / 100