After the Senior Bowl, I reached out to team sources to see which players helped themselves the most in Mobile. All of the evaluators said Missouri defensive end Zion Young independently, and he was perhaps the player who did the most to rise during the Senior Bowl practices. Entering the Senior Bowl, many sources thought Young was a likely second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. In following up with scouts, multiple team sources think Young could be a first-round pick next April.
“I think he goes top-25,” said an AFC director of player personnel. In 2024, Young had 41 tackles with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. As a senior, he vastly improved with 42 tackles with 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two passes batted, and was among the nation’s leaders in pressures. At 6-foot-5, 262-pounds Young has good size to be an edge defender. “In a weak draft like this, I think he sneaks into the first,” said an NFC director of player personnel.
In my latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, I have Young going to a playoff team on the opening night of the draft. If Young works out well at the NFL Scouting Combine and pro day that could continue his rise. Young does need to interview well to help ease character concerns from his time in college. If Young slides out of the opening night of the draft, the character concerns are the reason.
