Commanders DE Chase Young at 'Career Crossroads' Amid Contract Uncertainty

Commanders defensive end Chase Young's career is already at a crossroads as he fights for his future in Washington.

When Chase Young was drafted at No. 2 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, not many would have predicted he would be fighting for his Washington Commanders career after just three seasons.

But unfortunately, due to his ACL injury, that is precisely where he finds himself. NFL.com has listed Young as one player whose career is now at a crossroads after Washington declined to pick up his fifth-year option.

"The last two seasons of Young's career have not gone according to plan," NFL.com writes. "After earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2020, the injury-plagued Young has appeared in just 12 games. He's recorded 1.5 sacks in that span. Washington simply isn't getting close to a quality return on its investment. The Commanders declined Young's fifth-year option this offseason, setting up a make-or-break year for a player once seen as a promising face of the NFL's edge-rushing future.

"He recently said he feels good, but he's not yet at full game speed. Eventually, he'll reach that point. And when he does, he'll encounter an intriguing opportunity that can produce drastically different outcomes: Succeed, and he'll be able to command a pretty penny. Fall short, and he'll be searching for another opportunity at a rate much lower than the one many once anticipated."

Young's return to the NFL fold has been a slow burn, but he did play the last three games of the 2022 season. He saw his snap counts increase in each game and now enters training camp needing to prove a point.

There have been several rumors floating around that Washington might put Young in the shop window to bulk up its draft capital, but in all likelihood, the Commanders will retain Young in 2023 in a bid to see him return to his rookie form.

Declining his fifth-year option gives Young a clear road on what must be done. 

Play well, and he will no doubt see a contract extension placed in front of him, but flaming out and not hitting the heights required will likely see the once-promising defensive end on the hunt for another NFL job.

---

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Washington Commanders? Click Here.

Follow Commander Country on Twitter.

Follow Adam Schultz on Twitter

Want even more Washington Commanders news? Check out the SI.com team page here