Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
This year’s NFL Draft edge rusher class is very, very deep and impressively talented. The New Orleans Saints are expected to be active at the position in this year’s selection process, but because of the depth of the available talent pool, may not have the need to rush to add a new face to the roster.
Because of that, New Orleans could choose to seek help in the second round after using its first selection to add to the wide receiver or cornerback rooms. If they went that route, targeting Missouri edge defender Zion Young would bring a lot of promise to the team’s front, especially when it comes to defending the run.
Missouri EDGE Zion Young
Age: 22
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 262 pounds
Arm length: 33 inches
Hand size: 9 ½ inches
Athletic testing
40-yard dash: 4.75
Vertical: 31 inches
Broad jump: 9-foot-9
#Missouri EDGE Zion Young is one of the most powerful edges in the upcoming draft.
Great size/length at 6’5, 262 with a good anchor, sets the edge very well, really good hand timing and power, and good in pursuit with solid burst. Up into my Top-50. pic.twitter.com/DteWTDSWgU
— Andy (@AndyyNFL) February 4, 2026
Adding another defensive end opposite top pass rusher Chase Young has long been an expected investment for the Saints in this year’s draft. But taking a player like Zion Young is a little unique in that he’s not just noted for his pass rushing ability.
The Missouri defender is an elite run-stopper. The Saints’ defense took a bit of a step forward in that department last year. They finished the 2025 season ranked No. 19 against the run, which was an improvement from No. 31 in 2024. New Orleans would like to keep that trajectory going, and Young would help.
2025 Stats
Total tackles: 42
Tackles for a loss: 15.5
Sacks: 6.5
Passes defended: 2
Pass rush win rate: 17.4%
Run-stop rate: 9.3%
Zion Young run defense pic.twitter.com/4zTErk5ssV
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) April 17, 2026
Pros
- Prototypical size for the NFL’s defensive end build.
- Outstanding run defender.
- Aggressive hands and powerful strikes make the jobs of offensive lineman tough.
- Forced tight end to double team often. Often won those matchups.
- Stronger against the run, but has the violent play demeanor necessary to be successful as a pass rusher.
- Has the versatility that would allow him to be both a standup edge rusher and hand-in-the-dirt 3-4 defensive end.
Opportunities for Growth
- Lacks speed to run the arc consistently.
- Doesn’t have the deepest bag of pass rush moves.
- Has counter moves to develop.
The Bottom Line
Young may not be the stellar pass rusher like the Saints could potentially land at No. 8 overall, but would provide the club with a great boost in run defense with development potential getting after the quarterback. As a projected top-50 player, Young would be an ideal target for the Saints at No. 40 overall.
With Young, the Saints could choose to invest in either a pass-rush specialist or a linebacker with pass rushing capabilities late. Where the potential of this selection gets pretty exciting is its impact on returning linebacker Kaden Elliss. With Young’s capabilities as a run stopper, which would be a valuable addition to the depth chart, Elliss could end up being the go-to subpackage pass rusher, playing to strength in his game.
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