(Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
In a somewhat shocking turn of events, the Washington Commanders have decided not to exercise Chase Young’s fifth-year option.
Young was a No. 2 pick and showed glimpses of greatness early in his career, but he missed quite some time due to injuries.
Even so, with his age and his upside, this was kind of a head-scratching decision by the Commanders and one that was met with some mixed reviews on social media.
The Commanders are not going to exercise DE Chase Young’s fifth-year option, per sources.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 26, 2023
Makes no sense to not pick it up considering you invested the 2nd overall pick on this guy and he still has a lot of potential
— . (@TwoTonedChrome) April 26, 2023
If you (anyone) expected them to, then you haven’t been paying attention.
— Justin from Richmond (@RealJustInRVA) April 26, 2023
No one in these comments understand anything if they think that this 100% means he is going to be traded or gone from Washington for good
— VOLS DEEP (@VolsOG) April 26, 2023
— Matt Newton (@mattnewts) April 26, 2023
@49ers right now pic.twitter.com/Rug1T6QbxP
— M.G. (@King1Nine) April 26, 2023
Now, Young will become a free agent after the 2023 season, meaning he’ll have plenty of extra motivation to deliver when he hits the field in a couple of months.
The former Defensive Rookie of the Year was quite impactful out of the gate, but he’s played a grand total of 12 games since the 2020 season due to an ACL injury.
Of course, Young wouldn’t be the first standout player whose fifth-year option isn’t picked up, and then stays with the very same team that drafted him, so this doesn’t necessarily mean he’s on his way out.
The Commanders are expected to be better overall with new OC Eric Bieniemy in town, and we already know what a fully-healthy Young is capable of.
So, if he delivers, which he most likely will, there’s no reason to think the Commanders won’t gladly swallow their pride and agree to sign him to a very lucrative contract extension worth way more than the $17.4 million they would’ve had to pay him with that fifth-year option anyway.
Hopefully for their fans, that’ll be the case.
The post Fans React To Today’s Chase Young News appeared first on The Cold Wire.