Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young picked a great time to have a career season. Now in his fourth season, Young has five sacks through seven weeks — and Young has only played six games. Young’s career-high is 7.5 sacks, set in 2020, when he was named NFL defensive rookie of the year.
As a rookie, Young played 78% of Washington’s defensive snaps. In his six games this season, Young has played 85% of the Commanders’ defensive snaps.
In the offseason, head coach Ron Rivera chose not to pick up Young’s fifth-year option for 2024, which would have been guaranteed for over $17 million. Considering Young’s recent injury history and lack of consistency, it made sense for the Commanders to decline the option.
However, it also created a problem. Fellow defensive end Montez Sweat is also headed for unrestricted free agency. In what looks like another lost season for the Commanders, Young and Sweat are two of the most popular names ahead of next week’s trade deadline. Would Washington deal Sweat or Young?
Washington already re-signed defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, meaning the Commanders would likely be forced to pick between Young and Sweat.
While Sweat is off to a fantastic start, leading the Commanders with 5.5 sacks, a deeper dive into Young’s numbers shows just how successful he’s been so far this season.
According to ESPN’s Pass Rush Win Rate, Young ranks No. 11 in the NFL among EDGE defenders. Per ESPN analytics, Young has had 134 pass-rush plays, and he has won on 32 of those plays, meaning he’s winning at a clip of 24%.
Young is passing the eyeball test, too. He has shown more variety in his pass-rush moves this season. Far too often in previous seasons, Young had one move, relying only on power and athleticism. Now, Young is learning to set up offensive tackles, using a second move to get to the quarterback. It’s working.
The Commanders have a difficult decision to make ahead of the trade deadline. Owner Josh Harris should be thinking about the future, and if Sweat can fetch a good return, he should consider trading him.
As for Young, Harris — not Ron Rivera, Marty Hurney, or Martin Mayhew — should remain patient and see how this season plays out. If Young finishes with 12 sacks or more, he’s going to earn a huge payday. That’s fine. Washington is flush with cash; Young is only 24 years old and a hometown hero.
For a player with Young’s upside, the decision on his future should be made by the next regime, not the current one.