Can 2nd-year defensive tackle make jump?
Las Vegas Raiders’ young veteran defensive tackle Byron Young has been impressive in training camp but has been uneven in the preseason.
Let’s look at what to expect from the Alabama product in the 2024 NFL season:
Size:
6-3, 292 pounds.
2023 recap:
Young didn’t have a productive rookie season, frankly. The third-round pick wasn’t active for the 11 games of the season, including the final 10 games of the season. He was active for six games, but made little impact. He had just four tackles on the season and never played more than 31 percent of the defensive snaps in any game. There were rumblings of Young not practicing well enough to get playing time as the season progressed.
What he offers Raiders in 2024:
He can be a rotational defensive tackle if he earns it. There are a lot of young players at the position and Young has to emerge. He has done well in training camp, so that’s a good start. But he has to show it in games.
Best-case 2024 scenario:
He takes the next step and becomes a trusted part of the playing rotation and he is active on a weekly basis and he shows the team he can compete to getting major playing time in the 2025 season.