The NFL’s deadline for teams to exercise their fifth-year option for players drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft class is May 1, 2023. We’ve already seen a slew of players get their 2024 salaries guaranteed, including Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow.
But a somewhat surprising decision came from the Washington Commanders on Wednesday when Chase Young’s 2024 option year was declined. Young, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, missed nearly the entire 2022 season after suffering a torn ACL in the previous season.
We dive into why the Commanders made the decision and where that leaves both the team and Young entering 2023.
Commanders Decline Chase Young’s 2024 Option
The headline is a bit shocking, considering Young was seen by most as a “can’t-miss” prospect out of Ohio State. I was one of those people saying that after seeing Young dominate his competition throughout college. But even a “can’t-miss” prospect can be susceptible to injuries.
Washington head coach Ron Rivera was transparent in that Young’s torn ACL, suffered on Nov. 14, 2021, would be a major factor in whether his fifth-year option was exercised. He practiced for the first time on Nov. 2, 2022, almost one full year after the injury. Rivera said the team had to “talk to the doctors, talk to the trainers, strength and medical” before making any decision.
Young, who has played only 27 career games across three seasons, hasn’t been able to make his stamp on the NFL just yet. He won the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2020 after logging 7.5 sacks in 15 games but struggled to convert pressures into sacks in 2021. There seemed to be frustration as Young had only 1.5 sacks in nine games last year.
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Rivera had been hinting that this outcome was possible. He noted that Washington rewarded Daron Payne with a massive contract after declining his fifth-year option, so the door isn’t closed that Young will be sent packing sooner than later. The financials of the move make sense, though.
The fifth-year option would’ve guaranteed Young $17.45 million for 2024, which is tough to stomach considering he’s not proven to be healthy yet. Another injury to Young would’ve locked Washington into that commitment.
The defensive end franchise tag was $19.3 million this past year, so the difference between the two distinctions wasn’t large enough for Washington to lock Young in now.
A more interesting fallout now comes as Washington appears likely headed toward a decision between paying Young or Montez Sweat long-term. This choice may have been coming anyways since the team invested so heavily into their defensive line from 2016 through 2019.
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Sweat has been solid but unspectacular, topping out with nine sacks in 2020. But he’s been available compared to Young’s lack of durability and is a plus-run defender. Sweat missed seven games in 2021 due to a fractured jaw and testing positive for COVID but has otherwise been a pillar of stability.
About to enter the 2023 season on his own fifth-year option, Sweat will be angling for his own new contract after this year. With his production and age, Spotrac has speculated that a new contract for Sweat could reach the $17 million-a-year mark. They gave him a market value of $16.6 million per year, putting him seventh amongst defensive end salaries.
Interestingly, Spotrac has given Young a market value of $18.2 million despite his recent struggles. Young would probably sprint to the table to sign the proposed four-year, $72.96 million deal they have him projected for. Washington would certainly hesitate to give him anywhere near the guaranteed money that would come with such a contract.