Commanders remain undecided about fifth-year option for Chase Young

The Washington Commanders remain undecided on whether to exercise the fifth-year option of defensive end Chase Young for the 2024 season. On Monday, the Commanders general manager Martin Mayhew said the team is still evaluating the situation.

“We’re still talking about that,” Mayhew said at this week’s NFL owners’ meetings, per Ben Standig of The Athletic. “We have a number of things to work through. We’re getting through the first part of the agency right now. We’re still in draft preparations. We have until May to make that decision. We’ll make the appropriate decision at the right time.”

Last month, Washington’s head coach Ron Rivera suggested declining the fifth-year option could motivate Young.

Washington selected Chase Young second overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. He recorded 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and a touchdown as a rookie. He earned the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. However, Young had a sophomore slump, gathering 1.5 sacks through nine games before tearing his ACL against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Last season, Young’s recovery limited him to three games. He missed a total of 22 games over two seasons as a result. Young’s apprehension over his rehab plan factored into his slowed recovery. The situation may play a role in Washington’s decision to give a fifth-year option.

Young received positive feedback in a visit with Dr. James Andrews last month that could go a long way towards erasing anxieties about his knee surgery. Yet, there is also the business side the Commanders must consider.

The 2024 fifth-year option will pay Young $17.452 million. That could complicate the future of fellow defensive end Montez Sweat, who will play the 2023 season on an $11.5 million fifth-year option. There are no expectations of an extension for Sweat before next season.

The Commanders have already extended their top-two defensive tackles, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Allen is in year two of a four-year, $72 million deal. Payne signed a four-year, $90 million extension this offseason, making him the second-highest-paid DT in NFL history. Washington would possibly have the most expensive defensive line ever giving Young a fifth-year and franchise tagging or extending Sweat by 2024.

Hard to cover that price tag without a cemented franchise quarterback. Declining Young potentially makes him a free agent next off-season. Sweat expects to be a free agent after the season as well. The Commanders may have to choose between their two first-round pass rushers.