The Washington Commanders are stuck between a rock and a hard place this offseason. The team has had wonderful success pinpointing players to use their first-round pick on in recent seasons. While on their rookie contracts, there is a ton of value to be had, but things are getting very expensive in Washington along the defensive line.
During the 2022 offseason, Jonathan Allen secured a four-year, $72 million extension. This year, it was Daron Payne’s turn to cash in, as he signed a four-year, $90 million deal. Montez Sweat, who was selected in the first round in 2019, is next in line for an extension.
He is entering the final year of his rookie deal and playing on the fifth-year option. Coming off of a career year in which he registered a defensive grade of 86.4, he has put himself in a position to cash in on a lucrative contract. However, his future is complicated because of the presence of Chase Young.
Young was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and the Commanders have to decide on his fifth-year option with the deadline looming. Based on his production, this decision would seemingly be a no-brainer.
The Ohio State product has a PFF grade of 87.4 since being drafted, which is 12th out of 189 players at the position. His PFF War of 0.58 is 18th and as a rookie, he made the Pro Bowl team. A knee injury cost him 22 games, which is cause for concern, but when on the field, Young has proven to be a difference-maker.
PFF believes that the Commanders will ultimately decide to exercise the fifth-year option on Young’s contract. The reasoning behind it is sound. If they don’t exercise the option and Young continues playing at the high level he showcased as a rookie, the team will be left with one franchise tag to use between him and Sweat, who is set to hit unrestricted free agency.
Exercising the option will ensure that the Commanders can keep their dominant defensive line quartet together for at least two more seasons. Given the question marks offensively with Sam Howell as the starting quarterback, retaining as much of what can be an elite defensive unit together for as long as possible is a sound strategy.
For Washington, the risk just doesn’t match the reward when it comes to declining Young’s option. That would put immense pressure on a team that is in the middle of being sold, working out a long-term deal with Sweat to use the franchise tag on Young.
That is likely a more expensive option, too, as the franchise tag for a defensive end in 2023 was $19,727,000. In 2024, the projected franchise tag price is $24,466,000. Young’s option even with a Pro Bowl escalator is set at $17,452,000. There is no real downside to exercising as long as Young can remain healthy.
