The Washington Commanders will have an interesting decision to make on edge rusher Chase Young — set to become a free agent this offseason — in advance of the Oct. 31 trade deadline. A new proposal suggests trading the former No. 2 overall pick to recoup some draft capital. Pro Football Focus recently laid out 10 trades they believe should happen before the trade deadline, and projected Young being dealt to the Baltimore Ravens for third-round picks in 2024 and 2025.
“You can make a legitimate case that this trade is way too much and also too little,” PFF wrote. “It’s arguably too much because there’s a very realistic scenario where Young becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season and is free to sign with any team for zero draft pick capital. It’s arguably too little because Washington could, in theory, extend fellow edge defender Montez Sweat before the franchise tag deadline and then place the tag on Young.”
After a torn right ACL cost him the better part of the last two seasons, Young has rebounded nicely so far in 2023. Despite a neck stinger holding him out in Week 1, Young already has 12 combined tackles, seven quarterback hits, three tackles for a loss and three sacks. The Commanders declined Young’s fifth-year option this past offseason, so he will be a free agent this offseason unless they either sign him to a long-term deal or place the franchise tag on him.
If the Commanders don’t plan to take one of those two paths with Young next offseason, there’s an argument to be made for getting compensation rather than seeing him depart in free agency. The problem is at 3-3, Washington is still in the NFC playoff race. With Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew potentially on the hot seat with new owner Josh Harris in place, it’s hard to believe they would sell at the trade deadline. Still, Washington has already given long-term contracts to both of their star interior defenders, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. As mentioned above, Montez Sweat is in a contract year as he’s playing on his fifth-year option. It’s fair to wonder if Washington will be able to construct a complete team by paying both Sweat and Young, in addition to Allen and Payne. It would be a ton of resources invested into one part of the roster.
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