Zion Young — 2026 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

One of the best defenses in the NFL adds to its bag of riches along the defensive front.

This mock draft didn't turn out great for the Patriots. We were hoping one of Brugler's top-5 offensive tackles or top-6 wide receivers or top-7 edge rushers would fall to the 31st pick. Alas, none did. This would be a good spot for the Patriots to trade back, but since we couldn't find any takers, we went with Young. Some teams may view him as undersized, but he would fit what the Pats are looking for at edge rusher and boost one of their weakest positions entering the offseason.

Young feels like an excellent fit for Mike Vrabel's defense. He's a big, rugged edge rusher who capped off a strong Senior Bowl week by winning Defensive MVP honors in the game.

Pass rush is an obvious need after the Bears posted the NFL's second-worst pass rush win rate in 2025. Young would help improve the unit in a hurry with his power and heavy hands off the edge. He also brings versatility, having played some at defensive tackle during his first two collegiate seasons at Michigan State. Young's upper-body power and 33.5-inch arms allow him to power through the anchor of opposing tackles. That was on full display during a rock-solid Senior Bowl week. I could see him pairing with Montez Sweat really well.