The Washington Commanders created a contractual logjam for themselves when the team declined the fifth-year option for defensive end Chase Young. Young is now in a contract year, but so is fellow first-round defensive end Montez Sweat.
Given the edge rushers’ market, there’s a slim realistic chance Washington will re-sign both Young and Sweat next offseason. Therefore, despite the team pushing for a playoff spot, moving one before the Oct. 31 trade deadline may be ideal.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Commanders are shopping Sweat and Young to gauge trade interest.
“I was told Washington has made calls to take the temperature of the market but is staying patient now, and that the next two weeks of play will shape the decision on their futures. The sense I get out of Washington is one of them will be on the move … if Washington can get the proper compensation.”
A win in Week 7 would push the Commanders above .500 with a 4-3 record. While the team has the playoffs in sight, the long-term best interest is to trade either Montez Sweat or Chase Young.
The Commanders have allocated $43.1 million of salary cap space in 2024 to their Pro Bowl defensive tackle tandem of Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen. Investing another $40 million into two-edge rushers doesn’t make financial sense.
What’s more perplexing for the situation is both head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew could be in a lame-duck season. Rivera is in his fourth year with Washington, Mayhew his third. With the new ownership, there could be wholesale changes for next season.
But, the Commanders cannot risk losing one or both in free agency and only getting compensatory picks in exchange.
Russini’s report contradicts a report earlier this week by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that suggested the Commanders view both Young and Sweat as part of their future.
Washington has a significant list of pending free agents, which includes safety Kam Curl.
Chase Young was the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Unfortunately, he struggled mightily in his sophomore season before tearing his ACL and patella tendon in his right knee. The injury also kept him down for the first 14 games of the 2022 season.
A stinger kept him out of this year’s season opener. But he has since returned and played well. Young has 3.0 sacks — that’s 1.5 more sacks than he had combined the previous two seasons. He’s also fifth in the NFL with 31 pressures, per Pro Football Focus.
Meanwhile, Montez Sweat leads the Commanders with 4.5 sacks. He also has generated 20 pressures. Interestingly enough, Casey Toohill has played well in reserve. In Week 6, Toohill had two sacks in 18 snaps.
If the Commanders trade Sweat or Young, they have depth at the defensive end position. The team also drafted a pair of late-round edge rushers this year — K.J. Henry and Andre Jones.
The next two weeks will be intriguing to watch where Washington goes with its two premier pass rushers.
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