After suffering back-to-back disappointing seasons, stifling what started out to be a potentially promising NFL career, ESPN reports that the Washington Commanders have decided not to pick up the 5th-year for DE Chase Young. Young is a 2020 1st-round pick out of Ohio State, and was widely considered to have been one of the best defensive ends of that draft class. For good reason, too, because the man played like it in his rookie season. This move should come as no surprise to anyone, as the option would’ve costed the franchise $17.25 million. A franchise tag should come as no surprise, either, as the projected value of the tag for a defensive is close to $20 million ($19.73 million) for one-season. In no way was he seeing that kind of money at the end of the day, but it’s unfortunate given how well he started off his career.
In 2020– the year he won Defensive Rookie of the Year– Young put together a respectable stat line. The defensive end put together:
- 44 combined tackles
- 32 solo tackles
- 7.5 sacks
- 4 passes defended
- 4 forced fumbles
- 3 fumble recoveries
1 fumble recovery for a TD
Since then, he’s yet to put together a season of playing in 10 or more games. Young sustained an ACL tear in his right knee during the team’s Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. He missed the rest of the 2021 season, and played in just three games during the 2022 NFL season. While injuries certainly played a part, Commanders head coach Ron Rivera cited an additional reason for the decision.
Rivera said that he also wanted to gauge Young’s commitment to the team. Young hasn’t always engaged in offseason workouts with the team, according to ESPN. Rivera is hoping that this decision will light a fire under Young, leading him to his best season yet.
He’s definitely got what it takes to be one of the league’s best pass-rushers, if he can just stay on the field. Should he be allowed to walk and test free agency next season, it’s possible he’d draw some interest from a handful of team. At the very least, the New Orleans Saints fan base seems to want his services.