Chase Young situation gets interesting.

Chase Young was one of the most dominant edge rushers in the league during his rookie campaign, but a slew of injuries has since changed peoples’ viewpoints on him. So much so, that the Washington Commanders didn’t pick up his fifth-year option. Now, there are a few different stories circulating about him as the Commanders head into OTAs and Training Camp.

The first of which is that Young could be on the chopping block. There were reports earlier this week that mentioned Young as somebody on the trade block in Washington. His value after so many consistent injuries is yet to be known, though there are certainly other teams in the NFL that would love to bring in a guy like him. Obviously, this doesn’t mean that a trade is on the way, but it’s something to monitor as the season approaches. The lack of a fifth-year option also makes that report believable.

Washington refused to pick up that option because Young hasn’t played more than nine games in a season in three years. That’s not even half of the games played in three straight years. He’s simply not on the field enough for his price tag. Not only does Washington need to see that he can stay on the football field, but that he can also be productive in the time he spends out there. Luckily, Young embraces the challenge set before him and believes that he’s in the best position of his life.

Speaking on it, he said, “Since I came in the game, I was in the game to prove myself. So, I’m not really thinking anything different. Going out there and playing my game.” The former Defensive Rookie of the Year and the number two overall pick also mentioned that he currently feels “night and day” different from a season ago. For those that don’t know, he didn’t appear last season until Week 15 due to an ACL tear that was suffered in 2021. Reporters asked for him to keep speaking on his difference but all he told them was to watch the film from practice. 

Young has the next two months to keep working his strength up and preparing himself for the season opener. Head coach Ron Rivera said that they’re going to be smart when it comes to throwing Young in game action too much before the year opens. Young feeling more like himself out there at practice is a tremendous sign for Washington, who needs more help on defense. However, there’s still a lot more work to be done to convince them that he deserves to stay on this roster. It’ll also be interesting to see if the Commanders pull the trigger on a trade before the season even starts due to their concerns or if they remain patient with the former DROY. Personally, they shouldn’t be making a move with him just yet. Let him show his worth on the field once and for all this year before making a major decision with him.