The Washington Commanders have a giant resolution to make instantly after the 2023 NFL draft. That call is whether or not or to not choose up defensive finish Chase Younger’s fifth-year possibility.
Head coach Ron Rivera raised eyebrows in February when he stated Washington hadn’t decided relating to Younger’s fifth-year possibility. Throughout final week’s media session forward of the 2023 NFL draft, Rivera was requested once more concerning the possibility, and all he supplied was the date of when the Commanders wanted to decide [May 2].
What if the Commanders have already decided?
Washington opened up the voluntary offseason program final week, and Younger was in attendance. That absolutely happy Rivera, who, alongside along with his teaching employees, was upset when Younger skipped parts of the 2021 offseason program after profitable the 2020 NFL defensive rookie of the yr award.
With Younger exhibiting up and having a clear invoice of well being, is that sufficient for Rivera to choose up the choice?
Absolutely, Rivera wouldn’t drag this out if he didn’t plan on selecting up the choice.
Or would he?
Younger’s possibility could be assured at over $17 million for 2024 if picked up. Fellow beginning defensive finish Montez Sweat is a free agent after the upcoming season. If the Commanders decline Younger’s possibility, each of their former first-round defensive ends shall be free brokers in 2024.
There might be one other chance for Washington.
Brad Spielberger of Professional Soccer Focus named 5 defensive gamers who might be traded through the 2023 NFL draft. Younger was a type of 5 gamers.
This one could also be a little bit of a stretch, however with the fifth-year possibility deadline for 2020 first-round picks on Might 1 quickly approaching — the Monday after the draft — maybe Washington will let one other crew make the very troublesome resolution of whether or not to completely assure $17.452 million for Younger in 2024.
Washington has now prolonged inside defenders Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, and edge defender Montez Sweat is getting into his fifth-year possibility season in 2023 coming off a season through which he earned a career-high 79.6 pass-rush grade with 62 complete quarterback pressures, additionally a high mark of his younger profession. Chase Younger arguably has a better ceiling than Sweat as soon as wholesome, however is Washington comfy with Sweat’s excessive ground and keen to be proactive in getting out forward of probably paying all 4 gamers?
If different groups are comfy with Younger’s medical state of affairs after he missed appreciable time with a knee harm, would they convey him aboard through the draft, train his fifth-year possibility and see what he provides in 2023 earlier than entertaining an extension? Groups such because the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans, amongst many others, must at the least take into account it.
I agree with Spielberger’s opening assertion. I discover Washington buying and selling Younger most unlikely. Younger nonetheless has celebrity potential. So it behooves the Commanders to provide him a totally wholesome season to indicate them he may be the participant they anticipated when deciding on him No. 2 general in 2020.
Rivera talked about in February about motivating Younger. Maybe dragging out his possibility resolution till the final minute is that motivation because it provides the Commanders extra time to judge Younger’s knee.
As for what Washington ought to do? There are sturdy instances from each views on selecting up — or declining — the fifth-year possibility.