The Washington Commanders made a rather shocking decision about Chase Young’s contract.
They decided not to pick up the fifth-year option on his deal, which would have earned him roughly $17 million next season.
And while Young has been away from the team during OTAs, HC Ron Rivera recently stated that it’s all good between both parties, adding that they’ve been in constant communication and that the star DE ‘gets it:’
“From what I’ve gotten in our text messages and conversations just, hey, he gets it,” Rivera said. “He understands, and he’s gonna go out, and I really believe he’s gonna come in and give us everything he’s got.”
Ron Rivera on declining Commanders DE Chase Young’s fifth-year option: “He gets it” pic.twitter.com/HPhGRIIrbA
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) May 25, 2023
Rivera also talked about how the Commanders took a similar approach with Daron Payne, not signing him to a contract extension to motivate him.
Payne responded by having the best season of his career, and the franchise rewarded him with a very lucrative four-year deal worth $90 million.
There’s absolutely no reason to think that can’t be the case with Young, a former top-five pick who ran away with NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2020 before an injury derailed the promising start to his career.
Young has chosen to work out on his own but will be in attendance for the Commanders’ mandatory offseason program, and he has the physical tools to be one of the elite pass-rushers in the league when healthy.
The Commanders will use this season to weigh in on his future and determine whether to place him under the franchise tag, sign him to a new contract, or just let him walk.
And if that’s not enough motivation to be at his best again now that he’s fully healthy, then nothing will ever push him forward again.
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NFL Insider Gives Latest Update On Commanders Sale
