Chase Young reportedly had his fifth-year option declined by the team on Wednesday, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post.
He will become a free agent after the 2023 season.
Chase Young was selected second overall by the team in the 2020 NFL Draft. Young made an immediate impact as a rookie in 2020, finishing the season with 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles, earning him NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He is considered one of the best young defensive players in the league and was expected to be a dominant force on Washington’s defense for many years to come.
However, injuries have limited the 24-year-old to just 12 games in the past two seasons and just 1.5 sacks in that time.
For Young, the task now turns to focusing on getting back to an elite level in 2023.
Last season, Young logged 115 defensive snaps and one QB hit. Expected to be much healthier in 2023, Young is on track to be full-go in Week 1.
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There’s no doubt Young has dynamic potential. The Commanders made him the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL draft for a reason. However, the 2023 season is going to be something of a prove-it year for the Ohio State product as he looks to prove he’s worthy of a lucrative, long-term contract extension.
Young has nine career sacks, six forced fumbles and 75 tackles, and now might be looking for a new deal with a new team if the 2023 season does not work out in his favor.
