In the 2020 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders selected defensive end Chase Young out of Ohio State University with the No. 2 overall pick.
The move to bring in Young immediately paid off for the Commanders as he went on to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and gave hope to a struggling franchise with a bleak future.
Unfortunately, after a stellar rookie season that reinvigorated the defense in Washington, Young has struggled to stay healthy and has played only 12 games combined in the last two seasons following a 15-game campaign in 2020.
With Young’s biggest issue being availability, the Commanders are concerned about his long-term future with the team and aren’t ready to reveal their plans regarding his fifth-year option, as head coach Ron Rivera made clear via JP Finlay of NBC Sports.
Asked if the team has a decision on Chase Young’s 5th year option Ron Rivera says “we will wait until May 2nd.” pic.twitter.com/7Is7IuMDZX
—JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 20, 2023
Despite being a franchise-caliber player with the talent to be one of the best defensive ends in the game today, Young’s persistent injury issues may be enough for the team not to exercise the fifth-year option.
It’s hard to invest in a player that can’t stay healthy consistently, and he’ll have to prove his worth moving forward to secure his long-term future in Washington eventually.
During his three-year career in the NFL thus far, Young has played 27 games in which he recorded 75 tackles, seven passes defended, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one defensive touchdown.
The star power is there with the potential to be a player the team can build around, but he’ll have to stay healthy while producing for Washington next season to get back on track.
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