Byron Young Complete NFL Draft Profile (Draft Stock Rising After Impressive Combine Outing)

Tennessee edge rusher Byron Young is eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft following his standout college career. An first-team All-SEC player, Young developed a knack for sacking the quarterback when the pressure is on and could hear his name called as early as the second round at the end of April.

Here's everything you need to know about Byron Young heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.

Byron Young Draft Stock & Mock Draft Projections

Mock draft sources accurate as of 4/23: Walter Football, Sporting News,CBS Sports, Pro Football Network, Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, ESPN.

Projected Draft Round: Round 2 (2), Round 3 (1), Round 4 (3), Round 5 (1)
Projected Team: Raiders (2), Patriots (2), Chiefs (1), Packers (1), Bears (1)

Byron Young Scouting Report

Young's path to being an NFL Draft prospect has been far from ordinary. He was out of football for 18 months following his high school graduation before trying out for Georgia Military College. He made the team and tallied 7.0 sacks as he was rated a top-15 junior college recruit at the end of the year.

The South Carolina native caught the attention of the Tennessee coaching staff as a result and was brought on to play for the Volunteers. He started 23 games over two seasons in Knoxville, logging 83 total tackles (23.5 for loss) to go along with 12.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups and 1 interception.

Highlighted strengths of Young's game center around his never-ending motor. He is going full force at all times and never hesitates to chase down a running back along the outside. Young's flexibility is another great trait considering it allows him to slip by opposing linemen with just a one-arm stab.

Young is far from a perfect prospect, though, as he could benefit from getting stronger in the weight room and faster on the field. He would also benefit from improving his footwork when it comes to rushing the passer. Nevertheless, Young's athleticism alone makes him an intriguing edge rusher.

Byron Young NFL Draft Prediction

Young is a player that defensive line coordinators would love to coach. He never takes a play off and is a slippery player, which isn't often said about pros at the edge rusher position. The 25-year-old has the makings of an immediate rotation player with the upside of an every-down presence on the d-line.

As for the best fit for Young, the Las Vegas Raiders stick out as a logical landing spot. The Raiders finished with the third-fewest sacks in the NFL (27.0) despite seeing Maxx Crosby log 12.5 sacks on the year. The need to find a complementary player to line up alongside him is becoming pressing.

Las Vegas recently hosted Young for a top-30 visit and haven't been shy about expressing a want to add defensive line talent this offseason. The Raiders could opt to play it safe and hope Young is still on the board when their third-round pick arrives (No. 70) or trade up to make sure they get their guy.

Prediction: Las Vegas Raiders (Round 3, 70 overall)

Check out more NFL Draft content from The Duel:

Byron Young NFL Combine Results

Byron Young Tennessee Stats

Byron Young Tennessee Highlights

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.