Chase Young’s Odds to Be Selected First Overall in 2020 NFL Draft Improve from +1400 to +750

• Chase Young’s odds to be selected first overall in the draft have improved
• Young had six tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles against Wisconsin 
• Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa still the odds-on favorite at -150

Is Ohio State defensive end Chase Young the best player in college football? In eight games this season, Young has 13.5 sacks and has forced five fumbles, which is a pretty good case for being considered the best player in the sport. 

However, is Young the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft?

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is still considered the leader to be selected No. 1 overall, while LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is right behind him. Somehow, Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert remains third despite a disappointing season thus far. Then, there is Young. The odds have changed a bit since we last reviewed this topic on October 18.  

2020 NFL Draft Odds

Odds taken Nov. 6

There are multiple reasons why Young could end up being the No. 1 overall pick. In particular, let’s examine three critical reasons why you should bet on Young.

Young’s Performance Against Wisconsin Was His Showcase

Ohio State had its first true test of the season on October 26 against then-No. 13 Wisconsin. The Badgers, always known for their big and powerful offensive line, were no match for Young’s lethal combination of power and speed. 

The Buckeyes rolled over Wisconsin with a 38-7 win and Young was phenomenal. The junior from Hyattsville, Md., tallied six tackles, including four sacks and also forced two fumbles. He consistently set up OSU’s dominant offense for a surprisingly easy win. 

One performance doesn’t define Young. He has been terrific all season, but for some, that was his breakout performance against a team with NFL-caliber players. The odds of him becoming the predicted future No. 1 overall pick could continue to climb over the season’s final month. 

Tagovailoa’s Odds Could Drop Over Injury Concerns

A nagging ankle injury could have some teams concerned about Tagovailoa’s stock. Not about his talent, but is he injury-prone? Tagovailoa suffered a high-ankle sprain in an October win over Tennessee. He has yet to return, although some expect him to play in this weekend’s huge matchup against LSU. 

Remember, Tagovailoa suffered an ankle injury late in the 2018 season on the opposite leg.

You're going to be super surprised when February hits and the hyper-criticisms of Tua start coming out of the woodwork. Tua is a great prospect and my QB1 but Joe Burrow is the real deal and as I just told you, some teams will probably end up coveting Burrow > Tua. https://t.co/baH9wK0tPz

— Kyle Crabbs (@GrindingTheTape) November 3, 2019

Ankle injuries should not cause a player to be labeled as injury-prone. However, when draft season rolls around everyone is looking for ways to knock a player and, unfairly, this could be something Tagovailoa faces in the pre-draft process.

Teams Picking in the Top Five

There are some bad teams in the NFL in 2019. Of the teams currently with the five worst records in the league, all could use help all over the place. This means that some of these teams are more likely to select the top overall player—considered to be Young—instead of being locked in on a quarterback.

Current #NFL draft order (sorted by wins and full season SOS) post 1PM slate on 11/3

1. Bengals
2. Jets
3. Dolphins
4. Redskins
5. Falcons
6. Giants
7. Browns
8. Broncos
9. Bucs
10. Raiders
11. Chargers
12. Bears
13. Lions
14. Cardinals
15. Jaguars

— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) November 3, 2019

The Bengals need a quarterback. They also need game-changing players. The Redskins selected Dwayne Haskins in the first round in 2019. Regardless of how he performs the rest of this season, there’s little chance Washington goes with another passer.

Miami needs everything. The Dolphins have long been tapped as the team for Tagovailoa. However, they have enough ammunition to select Young No. 1 and still move back up and take Tagovailoa. That is, of course, if the Dolphins end up with the top pick.

The New York Jets have Sam Darnold. While the Atlanta Falcons have Matt Ryan. Both teams, especially the Falcons, need impact defenders. 

Young is Smart Money

Young has the size, speed, and power to be the next dominant NFL edge rusher. He would also become the third Buckeye pass-rusher in the last five years to become a top-five pick. He is the type of player you choose whether you need a quarterback or not.