Zion Young, an edge rusher from Missouri, is among the best prospects going into Day 2 of the 2026 NFL selection.
Many observers believe that Young is the best player available at his position because six edge rushers were chosen in the first round of the draft.
According to Pro Football Focus, Young recorded 6.5 sacks on 57 total pressures in 2025 and was named a first-team All-SEC player for the Tigers. A Missouri player will be chosen in the top 50 for the third consecutive year if he is chosen in the first eighteen picks in Round 2.
The good news for Young is that a number of teams need an edge rusher early in the second round. Here are four plausible locations for Young to land on Friday.
Pick No. 33: San Francisco 49ers
On Friday night, Young might be the first player off the board. Daniel Flick of Sports Illustrated predicted it in his mock draft on Friday morning. San Francisco finished last in the league in sacks during the 2025 season, demonstrating that the 49ers lacked the superior pass rush that seemed to be a given for the team in previous years.
Pick No. 40: Kansas City Chiefs
Young’s next career destination may only require a quick trip to the west.
Choosing to pass on some of the top edge rusher prospects in the NFL in favor of the first defensive back off the board, the Chiefs made one of the first unexpected moves of the draft when they traded up three spots to choose LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. Peter Woods, a defensive tackle from Clemson, was then chosen by the Chiefs with selection No. 29.
Even with two defensive additions, edge rusher still remains a top need for the Chiefs. If Kansas City selects Young, it’ll be the first Missouri player they select in the draft since taking Nick Bolton with the No. 58 pick in 2021.
Pick No. 50: Detroit Lions
Could a return to Michigan be in store for Young, who started his career at Michigan State? Former first-overall pick Aidan Hutchinson has become one of the best in the league, but Detroit hasn’t been able to find someone to pair with the second-team All-Pro.
Pick No. 52: Green Bay Packers
The Packers, who are still in the NFC North, also have a top-tier edge rusher in Micah Parsons, but they have had trouble getting him to produce. 2026 would be the perfect year for Green Bay to choose and develop an edge rusher, especially since the Packers recently traded former Pro Bowler Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys and former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness is nearing the end of his rookie contract.
To have a chance at choosing Young, Green Bay may need to advance.
