Washington defensive end Chase Young Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Would Washington trade Chase Young for Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson?

Even before the end of the 2021 NFL season, Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said his team needed to "take that big step forward" this offseason, and Rivera remarked after Week 18 that "nothing is out of the question" as it pertains to the club's quarterback situation. 

Washington will likely move on from veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick when the new league year opens next month and is at the very least in the market for an upgrade over Taylor Heinicke. In a mailbag published Friday, The Athletic's Ben Standig wrote that anybody currently on the Commanders roster, including 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young, could be traded this winter or spring if the right signal-caller became available. 

"In Young’s case, that would mean the Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson level," Standig noted. 

Young suffered a torn ACL in November but, per Bryan Manning of Washington Wire/USA Today, recently said he's working toward being ready for Week 1 this coming September. 

As for the quarterbacks, Wilson has been linked with a trade from the Seattle Seahawks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that (maybe?) lost Tom Brady to retirement. Meanwhile, a report surfaced Thursday that Rodgers has still "not informed" the Green Bay Packers "about his plans for the 2022 season — whether to return to Green Bay, request a trade or retire." 

Before last weekend's Super Bowl, Washington was mentioned as a potential suitor for Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers. The Commanders almost certainly wouldn't include Young in a trade package for Garoppolo or be asked to do so at this stage of Jimmy G's career. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Timberwolves chew up Nuggets to force Game 7
Rangers secure spot in conference finals after stunning third-period comeback over Hurricanes
Xander Schauffele makes history in first round of PGA Championship
Yankees' Hal Steinbrenner shares massive Juan Soto contract update
Steelers' Cameron Heyward addresses contract holdout
Knicks star ruled out for potential closeout game
Dodgers starter undergoes season-ending UCL surgery
Clemson’s Dabo Swinney gives smug response about not using transfer portal
Caitlin Clark's debut was most-watched WNBA game in more than 20 years
Watch: Chris Kreider's natural third-period hat trick shatters Hurricanes' comeback hopes
Veteran NFL safety will either play for this team or retire in 2024
Former Red Wings head coach linked to open NHL job
How Patriots' Drake Maye has already impressed Jacoby Brissett
LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry among Forbes' highest-paid athletes for 2024
Steve Cohen addresses if Mets could again be trade-deadline sellers
Tiger Woods ruins strong first round with sloppy finish at PGA Championship
NFL responds to speculation about Chiefs schedule and Taylor Swift
Despite hopes for change, NASCAR championship weekend will return to Phoenix in 2025
Chiefs will achieve something not done since 1927 with 2024 schedule
Yankees' Aaron Judge comments on resurgence after bad slump

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.