Lions named a potential landing spot for former No. 2 overall draft pick
The Detroit Lions have done a nice job of upgrading their defense this offseason by signing guys like Emmanuel Moseley, Cam Sutton, and CJ Gardner-Johnson. Those additions will certainly help the Lions as they go against wide receivers in the division like Justin Jefferson for the Minnesota Vikings or DJ Moore with the Chicago Bears. […]
The Detroit Lions have done a nice job of upgrading their defense this offseason by signing guys like Emmanuel Moseley, Cam Sutton, and CJ Gardner-Johnson.
Those additions will certainly help the Lions as they go against wide receivers in the division like Justin Jefferson for the Minnesota Vikings or DJ Moore with the Chicago Bears.
Detroit could add even more defensive firepower this offseason, too.
The Lions were named by CBS Sports this week as a potential landing spot for Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Young, a former Ohio State standout who reached the Pro Bowl as a rookie, has dealt with significant injuries over the last two seasons. Young has played in just 12 out of 34 games over the last two years. As a result, the Commanders declined to pick up Young's fifth-year option earlier this spring.
From CBS Sports: Young seemed like he was going to be a cornerstone player for the Commanders when he was taken No. 2 overall out of Ohio State and then made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Injuries have dogged him since then, though, and Washington declined to pick up his fifth-year option. Might another team be willing to give up something of value and hope it can tap into his immense upside?
Young has the talent to be one of the top pass rushers in the NFL (7.5 sacks as a rookie is quality production).
The injuries, however, are a major concern. Young tore his ACL and ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee in November 2021. He was limited to just three games in 2022 as he worked to return from the injury.
If the Lions can get Young for cheap (perhaps a second-round or third-round draft pick), they could land one of the biggest steals of the offseason. It would be a huge risk because of Young's recent injury history, but his upside would make the risk worth it.
A healthy Chase Young in Detroit could mean the end of the Lions' lengthy NFC North division title drought.
