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Chase Young looked to be on the verge of superstardom in 2020. The Washington Commanders defensive end finished his rookie season with 7.5 sacks and was named NFL defensive rookie of the year.
Young regressed in 2021, recording only 1.5 sacks through nine games before suffering a devastating knee injury in Week 10. Young would miss the remainder of the 2021 season and all but three games of the 2022 season.
Young’s injury and lack of production over the last two years led the Commanders to decline to pick up Young’s fifth-year option for 2024.
Declining the option made good business sense. However, it comes with risks. Young will be a free agent after the 2023 season, along with Montez Sweat. Had Washington picked up the option on Young, and he and Sweat both had big 2023 seasons, you could control both for 2024.
That’s no longer an option. Washington is very likely choosing between Sweat and Young. While some are skeptical that Young can finally reach double-digit sack numbers, former Washington cornerback Fred Smoot isn’t among them.
On a recent episode of “Logan Lives in the Comments,” starring former Washington players Logan Paulsen, Smoot and Santana Moss, Paulsen asks Smoot which defensive players have stood out thus far. Smoot names two: Young and safety Kamren Curl.
While Smoot didn’t necessarily cite their performance in OTAs or minicamp, he went a step further, predicting a big season for both players in 2023. He believes Young will have a huge season in 2023.
.@Fsmoot21SeanT is looking at two players on defense for his breakout players of the spring
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) June 16, 2023
Smoot thinks Young could reach “15-to-10 sacks” in 2023.
If Young reaches those numbers, you can probably expect the Commanders to apply the franchise tag on him in 2024.