Earlier this offseason, the Washington Commanders made a crucial decision regarding the future of former No. 2 overall pick Chase Young, declining the fifth-year option for the former Heisman Trophy finalist out of Ohio State. And even though a decision like that could cause a rost of rift between the player and the team, it does not sound like that’s the case here.
This week, Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera spoke on the Chase Young contract situation a bit, revealing that Young “understands” the team’s decision not to pick up his fifth-year option.
“He gets it, he understands,” Rivera said of the fifth-year option according to ESPN. “He’ll come in and give everything he’s got. Look what Daron did.
“Guys that produce for us we want to keep them around. That’s been the message. I believe [Young] has adapted to it nicely. He’s working hard. I’ll be excited to see him when he has to be here.”
With the team declining his fifth-year option, Young is now set to become a free agent following the conclusion of the 2023 NFL season. While there’s still a chance the team could place a franchise on him following next season, it appears that his future in Washington is a little more uncertain than they would have hoped when they selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2021.
[ESPN]
