Zion Young gets first chance to earn a prominent role in Ravens' rotation

Zion Young, the Baltimore Ravens' second-round pick, will make his NFL debut this Saturday night against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium. The preseason is not the primary purpose of the preseason for Young, who aims to prove how significant his role can grow during his rookie season. The Ravens intend to bench their established starters, giving Young and other emerging players more opportunities to showcase their abilities.

Young was selected by the Ravens with the 45th overall pick after they considered a trade-up to secure his services. This investment indicates the team's high regard for his combination of size, power, and physicality. Young's college career at Missouri showcased his potential as a dominant pass-rusher, with 6.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 17 quarterback hurries in his final season.

His approach to pass-rushing relies heavily on his power, long arms, and relentless motor, rather than just his speed. The Ravens have already experimented with moving Young inside during passing plays, which could enable other edge defenders to exploit the gaps created. Young demonstrated his ability to overpower guards and disrupt the pocket during the offseason, including creating pressure, defeating a blocker on a screen, and tipping a pass at the line of scrimmage.

Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver praised Young's physicality, stating that he is "as good as advertised." The Eagles' lineup features several rookies, including Markel Bell, Cameron Williams, John Ojukwu, and other reserve linemen, who will be playing additional snaps and undergoing evaluations. Young does not need multiple sacks to make a positive impression.

Consistently crowding the pocket, forcing quarterbacks off their spots, and creating opportunities for his teammates would demonstrate his ability to contribute to Baltimore's pass-rush rotation immediately.