The Washington Commanders will not exercise defensive end Chase Young’s fifth-year option, as Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
That means after the 2023 season, Young will be an unrestricted free agent. Young joins fellow former first-round draft pick Montez Sweat as players scheduled for unrestricted free agency next offseason.
What does this mean for Young?
This is good for Young, especially if he believes he can recapture his form from the 2020 season, in which he was the NFL defensive rookie of the year. However, if Young resembles the player from the first half of the 2021 season, he will be playing elsewhere in 2023.
You could look at this from another perspective: Young is losing out on a guaranteed $17 million if he doesn’t play well in 2023.
Just because Washington declined Young’s fifth-year option doesn’t mean the team is done with him. When head coach Ron Rivera hinted at this in February, he used defensive tackle Daron Payne’s situation in comparison. There was a difference, the Commanders picked up Payne’s fifth-year option two years ago; they did not enter into contract talks last offseason and appeared fine with him entering free agency in 2023.
How did Payne respond?
By having the best season of his young NFL career, leading the Commanders to place the franchise tag on him. But instead of playing the 2023 season on the tag, the Commanders signed Payne to a four-year, $90 million extension just before free agency opened in March.
Young is certainly capable of following in Payne’s footsteps. If that happens, Washington could apply the franchise tag on Young. However, with Sweat also entering free agency, you can’t place the tag on both, meaning the Commanders will lose one via unrestricted free agency unless they can agree to terms with Sweat on an extension sometime between now and next March.
Essentially, Washington is deciding between Young and Sweat in 2023. And, based on their individual performances thus far, Sweat would prove to be the better investment — for now. Young has a higher ceiling, but Sweat has solid production and is excellent against the run.
Additionally, reserves Efe Obada, James Smith-Williams and Casey Toohill are free agents after the 2023 season, meaning Washington is a team to watch in the edge rusher market in this week’s 2023 NFL draft.