Chase Young Trade to Lions Rumor: What Could Commanders Get?

There is a fact that makes it easy for Washington to be telling the truth about that "not shopping'' thing as it regards Chase Young.

The odds are, when it comes to Chase Young, that the rest of the NFL joins the Washington Commanders in a responsible mode: That is, a "wait-and-see" mode.

It's why the Commanders - who have said they aren’t shopping Young - declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. That represents a lack of faith, a lack of value ... and a heap of pressure on all involved.

Enter the (media-created?) rumors that continue to swirl about the winner of the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2020 who has been unable to stay healthy since. So ... treasure-chest trade offers are not being made here.

And that's a fact that makes it easy for Washington to be telling the truth about that "not shopping" thing.

Nevertheless, an evaluation of the hypothetical exercises have some worth. Example: Detroit has been named as one of the potential landing spots for Young.

Via CBS Sports comes the notion that the Lions, who are oh-so-close to true contention (they finished the 2022 campaign by winning eight of their last 10 games and could win the NFC North this year) might be buyers. Detroit adding a bookend to Aidan Hutchinson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft who had 9.5 sacks? One can see the vision.

But one can also see the problem when it is suggested that "Detroit could offer a second-round pick, a third-round pick and a fourth-round pick in exchange for Young." Which is true; the Lions could do that.

But they wouldn't. The reality of Young and Washington is that they are stuck with one another for a while, and that the upside (a healthy Young helps the Commanders contend for the playoffs) is far more palatable than the trade reality (no team is destroying its 2024 NFL Draft cupboard for the unknown that is Young.

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