We are just about a week away from the 2020 NFL Draft and the hot stove is starting to heat up! Trade talks swirling (see Bill Barnwells Skins-Jaguars trade where we swap picks for DE Yannick Ngakoue ), rumors gaining more interest (Redskins Interested in QB Jordan Love?), and mock drafts galore! Everyone has almost certain that if the Redskins do not trade back at #2, they will take Chase Young, DE OSU. However, a few weeks ago Clinton Portis made waves claiming that if he was the Redskins GM, he would take Isaiah Simmons, LB Clemson, at #2. Many scoffed at the idea (myself included) but does he have a point? Here’s a small breakdown of what each player could bring to the Redskins.

Chase Young, DE OSU: Standing at 6’5″ and weighing 264 lbs, the true junior Chase Young dominated Big 10 football last year at Ohio State, registering 56 QB pressures, 16.5 sacks, 7 QB hits, and 31 hurries all on 320 total pass rushes. Even missing the opening two games of the season, Young finished with the most sacks in the NCAA and broke the school sacks record.

One thing jumps out to you immediately when breaking down Young’s film – he is fast, freakishly fast. His acceleration off the snap is flat out scary and his balance and hip bend look almost identical Myles Garrett from a few years ago. Combine that with his stellar hands, rip techinques, and footwork, Young looks almost unblockable at times. Young almost always goes for the strip sack and does a great job of keeping his head up as to not draw a penalty.

Many scouts compare him to Julius Peppers and believe he’s the best player in this years draft. After watching a little bit of film you can see why. Even against teams known for their big offensive lineman such as like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa, Young was a mismatch almost every time a tackle was one on one with him. Therefore, Young constantly had protections slide his way and was almost always chipped by a TE or RB. There are countless times that protection was shifted his way even though the Buckeyes were showing obvious pressure from the other side, only to lead to an easy sack by Youngs teammates.

As for weaknesses, Young prefers the speed rush even when the opposing offense is geared to stop it. He needs to add the bull rush and some more polished power moves to the repertoire, which he has shown he can do. However, the biggest knock of Young is his lack of stats in College Football Playoff game where he only registered two tackles and no sacks giving people the notion that he doesn’t show up in big games. However, he had multiple QB hits that game and hurried Trevor Lawrence 7 times. I give Clemson a lot of credit scheming up a great game plan to not let Young take over that game. Had it not been for some heroics plays by QB Trevor Lawrence and especially RB Travis Etienne, Young would have made his presence felt.

Here are Chase Young’s highlights and video breaking him down:

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHV7WksfnMo

Breakdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUCZgt_XG2c&t=632s

Chase Young chose to sit out the NFL combine and now with pro days being canceled due to the coronavirus, his 40 time, bench, vertical, cone, and shuttle remain a mystery. However, another defender chose to work out at the NFL combine and dazzled. Enter Isaiah Simmons.

Isaiah Simmons, LB Clemson: Simmons stands 6’4″, weighs 230 lbs and led the Tigers with 107 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss, and 8 sacks. However, Simmons exploded onto the national scene running a 4.39 40 yard dash at this years combine, one of the fastest times by any of the invitees. He added a 39″ vertical (top 4 in his class) and 132″ broad jump (2nd in his class) as well which cemented him as one of the best prospects in this years draft

Simmons tape is fascinating as well. Clemson listed him as a linebacker but he lined up all over the place – cornerback, safety, defensive end – and he played all these positions well. Simmons can rush the passer, shuck off a fullback in the hole to tackle the RB, cover the slot receiver/ TE, and play deep a ball-hawking free safety. Essentially, Simmons is the Swiss army knife of defenders.

What surprises me the most about Simmons is his how this tall, lengthy looking player can break down and knock the ball carriers clean off their feet. He truly isn’t afraid to put his face in there and make the hit. Further, his long arms and quick feet make him almost play faster than his 4.39 40 leads on. On the film, he routinely makes plays on the edge and hardly ever gets beaten around his corner.

As for weaknesses, Simmons could use some more strength. He sometimes gets pushed around when taking on a pulling guard or tackle. He also doesn’t have many pass rushing moves outside of his pure speed. He is stellar in zone coverage but can sometimes get beaten in man to man, especially against shiftier WRs. Other that that, the biggest concern on Simmons is the mystery position he played at Clemson.  Listed as a linebacker, Simmons was more of a strong safety than a linebacker. Trying to plug Simmons into a 4-3 linebacker role in a traditional system would be a waste of his coverage skills.

I strongly feel that Simmons needs to be a full-time safety the minute he is drafted. Simmons reminds me of none other than Sean Taylor. Granted, he will never be the fierce hitter that Sean Taylor was, but Simmons’s highlights are so similar to Taylor’s at Miami it’s eerie. Like Sean Taylor, Simmons could patrol the field from strong safety, join the rush when needed, cover his deep third, man up against bigger tight ends, spy/ keep a mobile QB in check, and punish receivers over the middle.  These kind of players are crucial to the modern NFL defense and in the right system, Simmons will shine.

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0MrzsGU7FQ

Breakdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-7_vc8AJE4

The Case for Simmons at #2 Overall: Look, both of these players are going to be studs. Chase Young is about as good as any defensive end prospect I’ve seen and I just compared Simmons highlight film to that of Sean Taylor. However, I feel as though the Redskins need Isaiah Simmons more than the need Chase Young. Yes, you never want to draft on “need” but right now, secondary is our most glaring weakness. Simmons would start from day one right next to Collins at FS where Chase Young will join a solid rotation of Ryan Kerrigan, Montez Sweat, Ryan Anderson, and possibly Jon Allen or Nate Orchard because of the move to the 4-3.

Simmons will immediately fill the hole at nickle and dime linebacker so we don’t have to watch Cole Holcomb, Jon Bostic, and/ or Josh Harvey-Clemons get burned in the flat. Also, Collins is constantly being called a “box safety”, so let’s see if he can prove that he’s not. Let Simmons take over as the strong safety and let Collins patrol the deep third. If that doesn’t work, flip them around and let Collins be the box safety everyone likes to accuse him of being and see if Simmons can hold his own as the last line of defense. We will know quickly if Simmons isn’t cut out for safety but believe me he is.

Offensive lines, QBs and offensive coordinators in the NFL are geared to stopping speed rushers like Chase Young. QB’s get rid of the ball faster (2.77 seconds snap to throw time). Tackles are far more athletic than those in college and are used to seeing pass rushers such as JJ Watt, Clowney, Von Miller, and Aaron Donald. NFL coaches will exploit even the tiniest of tendencies all game long if they can meaning Chase will have to win with more than just speed and prove that he is more than just capable of stopping the power run game that Dallas is going to bring right at him.

Chase Young will not live up to the hype and how can he? NFL analysts from all over are saying he’s the best prospect they’ve ever seen – better than Jadaveon Clowney, Myles Garrett, Nick/ Joey Bosa – and should be a perennial All-Pro. The Redskins haven’t had an All-Pro in 25 years (sadly, the last player was going to be was who I am comparing Isaiah Simmons to)!

I don’t want this to be taken out of context and make it seem as though I dislike Chase Young. I think he will be a fine player and any team that picks him will certainly have a potential to an All-Pro. However, the Redskins desperately need a play maker on defense who will take away our opponents play makers. We need someone who’s going to be on the field at all times, who can bat that ball away from Zach Ertz on 3rd and 10, who can corral Dak Prescott when he eludes the pass rush and tries to break it to the corner, who can intercept Daniel Jones’s “dime” back-shoulder throw, and who will punish Amari Cooper for catching that slant over the middle.

If it were my choice, I would select Isaiah Simmons with the #2 overall pick.