Could Commanders DE Chase Young Leave Washington Amid Uncertain Contract Situation?

Commanders defensive end Chase Young and his future is up in the air, but could the former first round selection really move on?

Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young will have to play well for a new contract. The franchise declined his fifth-year option, partly due to Young coming off his ACL injury and only playing three games last season.

Naturally, the thought is that Young will, like Daron Payne last season, play well, notch sacks, and then be rewarded with a shiny new contract.

But...what if he doesn't? 

Could the former first-round pick seek greener pastures elsewhere?

As part of Sports Illustrated's 100 bold predictions for the NFL season, SI believes Young will leave the Commanders by season's end.

"At some point, it would be hard not to imagine someone giving Washington just a little bit more than the team would make on compensatory value for Young," SI writes. "He was not granted his fifth-year option and played in just 11 games this year, having been unable so far to follow up a solid 7.5-sack debut season. The 2020 No. 2 pick can and will resurrect his career elsewhere (call that a subprediction). Leaving the Commanders is a bit like getting out of the dentist’s office. Your whole perception on life changes."

Seeing Young in another team's uniform will be odd for Washington fans, but that could be a reality if the defensive end doesn't do his part on the field next season.

For some, the time for excuses is over, and Young needs to show he can still be the type of player who won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020.

The Commanders are in a great position, and in truth, Young could be deemed expendable regardless of his season.

Last year, Jack Del Rio's defense ranked seventh in the NFL for points allowed ( averaged just 20.2 per game) and had great production out of Payne (11.5 sacks), Montez Sweat (8.0 sacks), and Jonathan Allen (7.5 sacks), so there isn't a pressing need to lock Young away to a long-term deal.

Washington finds itself in pole position. Play Young, and he rediscovers his form, which bodes well for the team, or they move off him and save what could have been a significant contract outlay.

It is only a theory, but if things don't go well next season, Young may find himself on another team and in dire need of resurrecting his once-promising career. 

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