Well, it’s draft season. So, not profiling multiple defensive linemen would be a mistake for the San Francisco 49ers’ projections. Toss in how unproductive the pass rush was last season, and we could be looking at two or three more defensive linemen added to the fold for whoever the 49ers choose for defensive coordinator. Nick Bosa’s return will help, and Bryce Huff and Keion White are cost-controlled, with Mykel Williams returning. But the 49ers’ philosophy of always drafting defensive linemen isn’t
going to change.
Enter Senior Bowl standout EDGE from Missouri, Zion Young. The 6’5 EDGE rusher might have been created in a lab, and John Lynch was on hand in Mobile to watch his practices, which surely turned heads. The things the 49ers look for in EDGE rushers are there for Young. Long arms and is capable of setting the edge against the run. It would be hard to think the 49ers haven’t done their homework on Young.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one. His college sack production isn’t high. With 2.5 sacks, production is a concern. Sure, the tools are there, but you have to finish. Again, the 49ers would be betting on traits and their development skills to get the most out of Young.
Matt Holder of Bleacher Report listed his strengths and areas of development in his scouting report.
Where he wins
– Young has a good frame and build, and appears to have good arm length.
– Solid strength at the point of attack and the long arms help him get extension on blocks from offensive tackles.
– Consistently resets the line of scrimmage against tight ends.
– Decent at setting the edge and running his feet to avoid getting reached against the run.
– Solid power and leg drive as a pass-rusher to occasionally collapse the pocket when bull rushing or turning speed to power.
– Active hands as a pass-rusher and has shown improvement with his use of hands from 2024 to 2025.
– Good pass-rusher motor to get coverage sacks.
Areas of Improvement
– Lacks burst/acceleration off the line of scrimmage to threaten offensive tackles with speed around the edge.
– Not very twitchy and doesn’t show high-level athleticism as a pass-rusher.
– Use of hands when rushing the passer is still a work in progress, his timing is off which limits his ability to take advantage of his long arms.
– Subpar bend and angles around the edge, impacting his ability to corner at the top of the rush and leading to inefficient paths to the quarterback.
– Has a habit of occasionally working around blocks.
– Turns his shoulders perpendicular to the line of scrimmage when setting the edge.
– As a freshman at Michigan State, he was involved in a fight in the tunnel after the game against Michigan and pled guilty to misdemeanor assault charges while also serving a suspension. Also, he was arrested for DWI on Dec. 13, two weeks before Missouri’s bowl game, per KOMU 8.
While the physical skills will pique the 49ers’ interest, you have to wonder if character concerns will be the deal breaker for the front office. Also, can the 49ers afford to spend a second-round pick (his current projection) on a player with limited sack production? The 49ers must have instant contributors with their first two picks. Foregoing other positions for Young is a risk, but one that the 49ers will surely weigh during their process.
