Zion Young NFL Draft Profile: Scouting Report, Stats, Highlights

A look at the Zion Young NFL Draft profile, including a scouting report, his college highlights and stats, and a 2026 mock draft projection.

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Oftentimes, the best NFL teams are built from the inside out. Zion Young fits the mold for any team looking to provide a boost to their defensive front in the 2026 NFL Draft. With size, power and seemingly endless energy highlighting his profile, Young is projected to translate his production from college to the pros. He has the potential to be a Day 1 draft pick.

Let’s take a look at our Zion Young NFL Draft profile, including his stats, scouting report, college highlights, and more!

Zion Young NFL Draft Profile 2026

Zion Young
Position: EDGE
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 262 lbs
Age: 22
College: Missouri Tigers

Zion Young College Stats 2025

After spending the first two years of his college career at Michigan State, Zion Young transferred to Missouri ahead of the 2024 campaign. His statistical production practically doubled from his sophomore to junior seasons, and Young was able to improve upon those numbers further in 2025. Among his statistical highlights are tying for 14th nationally in tackles for loss.

Here are Young’s college stats from this past season:

Games: 13
Tackles: 42
Tackles for Loss: 16.5
Sacks: 6.5
Forced Fumbles: 2

Zion Young Highlights

When is the 2026 NFL Draft?

The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 23, beginning at 8 p.m. ET. This year’s draft will take place in Pittsburgh, PA. Only Round 1 will take place on Thursday. Rounds 2-3 will take place on April 24th, with the remaining four rounds wrapping up on Sunday, April 25th. There will be 257 players selected across the seven rounds, with many more getting phone calls immediately afterward.

Zion Young Scouting Report

Strengths

Zion Young possesses the prototypical build of an NFL edge rusher, combining size, length, and strength with an aggressive playing style. His power consistently show up on film, as opposing offensive linemen often struggled to contain him. He was able to neutralize tight end chips with ease, powering through contact and maintaining his path to the ball.

He also displays solid footwork and the ability to transition effectively on inside rushes. Against the run, Young is a reliable tackler who sheds blocks well and sets the edge with discipline. As a pass rusher, he does a good job transferring lower-body power into contact, allowing him to collapse the pocket with strength.

Weaknesses

Young’s pass-rush consistency remains his primary concern. While his power is evident, he lacks the burst and bend to consistently win around the edge, and he does not yet have a reliable go-to move. When his initial rush is stopped, he can struggle to adjust, often allowing blockers to reset.

Improving his leverage and overall pass-rush plan will be key at the next level. At times, he plays too upright, limiting his ability to corner effectively. This, combined with only average pursuit speed, allowed longer offensive tackles to effectively neutralize him at the college level.

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For more 2026 NFL Draft profiles, check out our NFL Draft page!

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Zion Young NFL Draft Projection | Expert 2026 NFL Mock Draft Projections

Where Young ultimately goes in the draft figures to come down to what positional strengths teams prioritize along the defensive front. Given that he figures to be an immediate contributor against the run, it’s no surprise to see some mocks projecting him as a first-round pick. If teams place more emphasis on his need for improvement as a pass rusher, a second-round landing spot feels more reasonable.

Here are the Zion Young NFL Draft projections from NFL Network, ESPN, CBS, Tankathon and Walter Football.

SOURCE	TEAM	RD	PK
NFL Network	Jets	2	44
ESPN	Ravens	2	45
CBS	Patriots	1	31
Tankathon	Patriots	1	31
Walter Football	Buccaneers	1	15

2026 NFL Draft Order | First Round

Here is the full 2026 NFL Draft order for the first round.

1. Las Vegas Raiders
2. New York Jets
3. Arizona Cardinals
4. Tennessee Titans
5. New York Giants
6. Cleveland Browns
7. Washington Commanders
8. New Orleans Saints
9. Kansas City Chiefs
10. Cincinnati Bengals
11. Miami Dolphins
12. Dallas Cowboys
13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL)
14. Baltimore Ravens
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
16. New York Jets (via IND)
17. Detroit Lions
18. Minnesota Vikings
19. Carolina Panthers
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB)
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
22. Los Angeles Chargers
23. Philadelphia Eagles
24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX)
25. Chicago Bears
26. Buffalo Bills
27. San Francisco 49ers
28. Houston Texans
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR)
30. Miami Dolphins (via DEN)
31. New England Patriots
32. Seattle Seahawks