Many Commanders fans made much of the Commanders announcing last week they would not pick up the 5th year option on 2020 first-round pick DE Chase Young.
Some raised their voices stating it was unfair to Young; some pointed the finger at Ron Rivera in particular, even saying it was stupid for the head coach to not exercise the fifth-year option.
Washington Commanders Head Coach Ron Rivera is a fucking idiot. Why in the hell would he let Chase Young. If anybody should go it should be him, what a jackass.
— Marcus Kelly (@marcusjkelly22) April 26, 2023
Rivera was even blamed if Young were to now leave the Commanders via free agency after the 2023 season.
Typically it was a case of fans speaking out in a spontaneous reaction. But now that the deadline has arrived and passed, we see that even the slightest bit of contemplation of what NFL teams determined this past week brings more understanding.
Who else besides Young did not have the 5th-year option exercised?
Well, there was Isaiah Simmons (8th selection by the Cardinals), C.J. Henderson (9th selection by Jaguars traded to Panthers), Mekhi Becton (11th selection by the Jets), Javon Kinlaw (14th selection by the 49ers), Austin Jackson (18th selection by the Dolphins), K’Lavon Chaisson (20th selection by the Jaguars), Jalen Reagor (21st selection by the Eagles later traded to the Vikings), Kenneth Murray, Jr (23rd selection by the Chargers), Cesar Ruiz (24th selection by the Saints), Jordyn Brooks (27th selection by the Seahawks), Patrick Queen (28th selection by the Ravens), Noah Igbinoghene (30th selection by the Dolphins), and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (32nd selection by the Chiefs).
The third overall selection, Jeff Okudah, had his contract restructured last week when traded to the Falcons. Further, there are already three players from the 2020 first round already out of the league: No. 12 Henry Ruggs III, No. 19 Damon Arnette and No. 29 Isaiah Wilson.
In three NFL seasons, the second player selected in the 2020 draft, Young, has provided Washington only 9 sacks, only 13 tackles for a loss and only 17 QB hits.
Young could still have a productive career by having a great 2023 season. The Commanders could then pay him accordingly. But why are the Commanders obligated to pay him as a star in 2024 when he has not produced for them since 2020?
Consequently, Young and 16 other first-round selections have had their teams determine the player simply is not productive enough to warrant the fifth-year option, and three teams previously divorced themselves from their first-round selection.
What’s wrong with Young earning his big NFL paycheck the old-fashioned way, earning it?