The Baltimore Ravens may have gotten 1st-round talent in the 2nd round due to the red flags surrounding 6-foot-6, 262-pound Missouri edge rusher Zion Young coming out of college.
If not for a pair of ugly off-field incidents during his time at Michigan State and Missouri, it seems like Young would have been a lock to go in the 1st round, which ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler pointed out in his post-draft analysis of every NFL team.
Instead, the Ravens got him in the 2nd round (No. 45 overall) and it could end up being 1 of the great value picks in the 2026 draft.
“The Ravens might also have gotten a first-round talent in edge rusher Zion Young,” Fowler wrote. “Some teams knocked him for character concerns, but the first-round ability is there.”
It’s hard to deny that’s true — the problem with Young is if a team can count on him not to mess up when he’s away from football. As he’s proven, that can literally mean any time from when the final buzzer sounds to when the next game begins.
Ugly Off-Field Incident Following Big Ten Loss
Calling Young’s problems “character concerns” is giving him the benefit of the doubt — all signs point to someone who seems like a pretty bad guy.
While Young has incredible upside, he also has a lengthy history of off-field incidents that should raise red flags among NFL teams.
In 2 seasons at Michigan State to start his college career, Young made 11 starts in 20 career games with just 2.5 sacks. He became more known for what he did after a game than anything he ever did in one.
In 2023, Young was 1 of 7 Michigan State players arrested after they jumped a pair of Michigan players in the tunnel following a 49-0 loss to the Wolverines. He was suspended from the team and eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor aggravated assault.
Young played his final 2 seasons for Missouri and ran into trouble at the end of his breakout season in 2025 when he was arrested on DWI charges.
Fortunately for Young, that arrest came after he put up a season that was catnip for NFL coaches considering his size and athleticism — he had career highs of 8.0 sacks, 18 TFL, 48 QB pressures, and 2 forced fumbles in 2025.
“Missouri football defensive end Zion Young was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, speeding, and a failure to properly affix a license plate to his vehicle, per Missouri State Highway Patrol arrest records,” The Columbia Daily Tribune’s Calum McAndrew wrote on December 13. “Young, 21, was arrested at 1:40 a.m. in Boone County. He was later released on summons for the above charges.”
Good Support System in Place for Zion Young
Young already has a good support system in place with the Ravens — his best friend is 2023 1st round pick and cornerback Nate Wiggins.
There’s also a veteran presence at edge rusher now with 31-year-old Trey Hendrickson, who signed a 4-year, $112 million free-agent contract and would benefit by serving as a mentor to Young.
“As a youngin’, I was taught smash-mouth football,” Young told ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “I’m looking forward to bringing the Super Bowl back to Baltimore. Whatever it takes. I’ll be the kicker.”
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