Zion Young had a solid combine, and an ever better Senior Bowl, solidly putting him is first-round draft pick conversations. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound edge rusher will be a highly sought after player come April, but it appears that one team might be emerging as one of the favorites to land him.
According to MassLive, the New England Patriots are a team to watch for Zion Young. The Patriots pick at No. 31 in the draft, and are apparently already very fond of Mr. Young. Here's more of what MassLive had to say about the Pats and the former Mizzou edge.
Keep an eye on edge rushers projected for the back end of the first round. Missouri’s Zion Young is a name to watch. We’re told the Tigers edge rusher is already a favorite among several inside Gillette Stadium. He met with the Patriots at the Combine.
Zion Young may have an indication as to where he will end up in the NFL Draft
Young likely met with multiple teams at the combine, but this is the most evidence so far that those meetings have turned into a potential landing spot. With New England, it makes plenty of sense that they would be targeting Young at the end of the first round. K'Lavon Chaisson may leave in free agency, and Harold Landry will turn 30 this summer, so the Pats will have a dire need for some more production at edge.
Young had 6.5 sacks this past season at Mizzou, and after a dominant showing at the Senior Bowl, has been flying up draft boards. At this point, it seems very unlikely that he falls outside of the top-40 picks. The Patriots may not be able to take their guy, however, as it was also reported that Young met with the Chicago Bears as well, who pick at No. 25.
Wherever Young lands, that team is sure to get a nice boost in the run game and the pass rush as well. While some of the top edges are pure pass-rushers, Young is a rare breed that can do it all. And while he didn't participate in the combine testing, he performed well in the individual drills, further cementing his status as a first round selection.