Chase Young

Latest On Commanders’ Trades, Sam Howell

November 7th, 2023 at 3:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

New Commanders owner Josh Harris played a major role in pushing the Montez Sweat and Chase Young trades over the goal line. While Harris is believed to have made the push for Washington to trade one of its starting defensive ends and, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, explore moving both.

The team was not expected to trade both, but after the team dealt Sweat to the Bears for a second-round pick, calls kept coming in for Young. The Ravens pursued the former No. 2 overall pick, but it took only a third-round compensatory pick for the 49ers to acquire Young just before the deadline.

Ron Rivera was said to be onboard with this sell-off, though it is difficult to believe the fourth-year Washington HC was thrilled with losing his top two edge rushers as he attempts to make a case for a fifth season. But the Commanders did win their first game after the trades. Contractual resources will be allocated elsewhere in 2024, after a Young-or-Sweat decision — be it through free agency or the franchise tag — had loomed for years.

Rather than this being about acquiring Day 2 ammo to potentially trade up for a quarterback in 2024, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicates there is a “strong” belief within the Commanders’ building Sam Howell is the team’s franchise quarterback (subscription required). These picks will presumably be used to build around the 2022 fifth-rounder.

It is not exactly ideal for ownership to be driving major trades, though it does frequently happen. And it certainly cannot be assumed Rivera and GM Martin Mayhew will be around to make the picks come April 2024. Both David Tepper and Rob Walton signed off on coach firings within their first 1 1/2 years on the job. The Broncos fired Nathaniel Hackett after 15 games, and Tepper canned Rivera after 12 in 2019. Rivera, who led Washington to the playoffs in 2020 but does not have a winning season with the team, may be on the verge of seeing another new owner fire him.

Even as he entered the season on a hot seat, Rivera stumped for Howell this offseason. After the Commanders made an aggressive Russell Wilson offer and were connected to just about every available QB in 2022 — in a process that ended with the trade for Carson Wentz — they stood down this offseason, centering their QB plan around Howell. Although Jacoby Brissett signed a one-year deal worth $8MM, Howell was always expected to be the starter. After winning the job, the North Carolina product has shown flashes (and a propensity to take sacks at a concerning rate) but has not exactly cemented himself as the long-term starter — especially if the 2024 Commanders feature a new coaching staff.

QBR slots Howell 20th. He leads the league in completions and is tied for the NFL high in interceptions (nine). Howell has completed 66.6% of his passes, at 7.0 yards per attempt, and posted 14 TD throws. Howell’s second half of the season could determine the team’s plans with the Sweat- and Young-obtained picks. For now, however, the plans are for Howell to stick around as the starter. These blueprints often change, and no team knows this better than the Commanders. Washington started seven Week 1 QBs from 2017-23. Only the Chargers (1987-93), Browns (2013-19) and Colts (2017-23) match this turnover rate in the Super Bowl era.

The Commanders started Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams at defensive end Sunday. Sweat made his Bears debut, after agreeing to a $24MM-per-year extension; Young is set to begin his 49ers run in Week 10. Washington will build its defensive line around Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne‘s big contracts, but the exits of both Young and Sweat will create a key need for the 2024 offseason.

Commanders Fallout: Falcons, Sweat, Ravens, Young, 49ers, Giants, Rivera

November 2nd, 2023 at 1:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons joined the Bears in making a serious pursuit of Montez Sweat. They are believed to have offered a third-round pick for the contract-year defensive end. While Chicago’s second-round offer won out, Atlanta was prepared to go a step further. The Falcons look to have had an extension in place had they made a deal for Sweat, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes. Sweat went to high school in the Atlanta area, with Fowler adding the defensive end has family there and was on board with being moved to the NFC South team. Instead, it is the Bears who are trying to negotiate an extension with the fifth-year edge. Chicago will have a 2024 franchise tag in its back pocket if no deal is reached.

Once again struggling to pressure passers, the Falcons are tied for the the second-worst sack total in the league (15). Only the Bears’ 10 ranks below the Falcons’ output. Atlanta also lost Grady Jarrett for the season in Week 8, creating a steeper uphill battle. Here is more coming out of the Commanders’ defensive line-reshaping deadline day:

The Ravens also engaged in talks with the Commanders, with The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec indicating Chase Young was Baltimore’s target (subscription required). The Ravens’ 31 sacks lead the NFL, but they have been frequently connected to edge rusher additions in recent years. It is unclear what Baltimore offered Washington for Young, but it only took a compensatory third-rounder for San Francisco to win Tuesday’s second DE sweepstakes.
John Lynch held talks about both Sweat and Young with ex-lieutenant Martin Mayhew, who is in his third year as Washington’s GM. Lynch also talked to Giants GM Joe Schoen, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. Although it is unclear who the 49ers were pursuing from New York, the Giants having already traded Leonard Williams would have seemed to naturally pique teams’ interest. Lynch and Mayhew go back to their playing days with the Bucs, when both DBs played together for four seasons. Lynch was a 1993 draft choice, Mayhew a 1993 Tampa Bay free agent signing. Mayhew then spent time as a 49ers executive during the Lynch-Kyle Shanahan years. They began discussing Young two weeks ago, per Lynch. Young has passed his physical and will be en route to San Francisco, potentially set to suit up after the 49ers’ Week 9 bye.
Indeed, the Commanders did not let the narrow loss to the Eagles determine their path. Rather than open the floodgates following that defeat, Ron Rivera indicated (via NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay) the process that led to the trades began around 10 days ago. Ownership was believed to have played a major role in making these trades, putting Rivera and Mayhew in a seemingly difficult spot due to Young and Sweat being in position to help this year’s team and the current power duo in danger of being gone when it is time to make the draft picks. That said, Rivera said (via Finlay) all parties were onboard with the moves. This week could certainly have provided some ownership-front office tension, but Rivera will now move forward without the Commanders’ two edge-rushing pillars, who had combined for 11.5 sacks this season.

Commanders Trade DE Chase Young To 49ers

October 31st, 2023 at 10:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Commanders indeed made Chase Young available following the Montez Sweat trade, and they will send him to one of the NFC favorites. The 49ers are acquiring the former Defensive Rookie of the Year, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reports.

This marks San Francisco’s third high-profile defensive line addition this year. The team gave Javon Hargrave a big-ticket deal in March, and the Broncos sent over Randy Gregory a few weeks ago. After two sluggish defensive outings, the 49ers are not stopping there. Barely an hour before the trade deadline, Young will follow Sweat out of Washington.

Young will fetch the Commanders a 2024 third-round pick from the 49ers, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. It will come from the 49ers’ endless supply of NFL-awarded compensatory picks — for seeing minority staffers hired as HC or GM elsewhere — according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Bears sent the Commanders a second-rounder for Sweat earlier today.

This will reunite Young with former Ohio State teammate Nick Bosa and add to one of the most star-studded defensive lines in recent NFL history. The 49ers also have veteran defensive tackle Arik Armstead in place. The prospect of a Bosa-Armstead-Hargrave-Young D-line is imminent, which stands to bolster a team coming off two upset losses.

For the Commanders, this constitutes a rebuilding step. Although the 3-5 team has not made Jonathan Allen available and will keep the veteran defensive tackle alongside the recently extended Daron Payne, its prized D-end duo is gone in a day. The Commanders did not pick up Young’s fifth-year option in May, putting both he and Sweat in contract years. While it would have been logical for a coach on the hot seat to push to keep both players, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports ownership played a major role in these trades being completed.

Others in the Commanders’ building wanted the team to retain the young defensive ends, Russini adds, but ownership looks to have led the way here. It was assumed either Sweat or Young would be franchise-tagged in 2024, but Washington has instead cleared the decks for Day 2 draft capital. Considering where Young was as a rookie, this represents an underwhelming return. But the former No. 2 overall pick missed half of the 2021 season and almost all of 2022 due to the ACL tear and patellar tendon rupture he suffered in November 2021. It has taken him a while to rebuild his value, and the former Heisman finalist will finish out his attempt to do so in San Francisco.

Through seven games (six starts) this season, Young has five sacks and nine QB hits. The talented edge rusher has shown much better form compared to the previous two seasons. On that note, Young was believed to be uninterested in extension talks this year. It will be interesting to see if this bet on himself will carry over to the Bay Area, as the 49ers likely will want him as more than a rental. San Francisco will have the option of franchise-tagging Young in 2024. With Brock Purdy‘s rookie contract in place, the 49ers may attempt to do what the Commanders would not: have four D-linemen signed to big-ticket contracts.

While the 49ers will be giving up a third-round pick, the team had two selections in Round 3 of next year’s draft already. Having continually seen their minority assistant coaches and front office staffers earn HC or GM jobs elsewhere, the 49ers have collected a handful of third-round picks under the revised Rooney Rule. They have two more coming in 2024, via the Titans’ hiring of Ran Carthon as GM and Texans hiring DeMeco Ryans as HC. This stream of third-round picks goes through 2025, via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.

San Francisco is also expected to pick up a compensatory third-rounder in exchange for the Broncos signing Mike McGlinchey to a top-five right tackle contract. The team could add another third-round comp pick if Young leaves, but it would seem the 49ers would prefer this not be a true rental add.

49ers D-line coach Kris Kocurek has been credited with leading emergences of various Bosa sidekicks — from Arden Key to Samson Ebukam to Charles Omenihu. The well-regarded position coach will work with a higher-end talent in Young, with Gregory now in place as more of a rental. Despite Gregory’s Broncos-built deal running through 2026, none of the money on that $14MM-AAV pact is guaranteed beyond 2023. The 49ers are also paying Gregory the veteran minimum, with the Broncos responsible for the rest.

John Lynch had said the 49ers planned to roll over most of their NFL-leading cap-space number to 2024. Young will only be attached to a $1MM base salary through season’s end. The 49ers will retain much of their cap space, though a chunk would need to go to Young — via an extension or tag.

As the 49ers will attempt to use this acquisition to bounce back from their two disappointing defensive showings, the Commanders will see their second Eagles defeat this year key what could be an awkward transition. Rivera is squarely on a hot seat, having not produced a winning record yet in Washington. This would be the second time the former NFC champion HC would be fired by a new owner, with that happening in David Tepper‘s second season (2019). Sweat and Young’s exits will certainly weaken the Commanders, even with ex-seventh-rounder Casey Toohill having four sacks as a backup.

The Commanders have never made five picks in the first three rounds of a draft previously (h/t ESPN’s Field Yates), with the George Allen era and Robert Griffin III trades headlining past hurdles on this front. In Harris’ first months as owner, the team will have this opportunity. Of course, it will risk seeing Sweat and Young play their best years in other NFC cities.

Commanders Taking Calls On Chase Young

October 31st, 2023 at 11:49am CST by Sam Robinson

Already unloading Montez Sweat in what may well have amounted to a numbers crunch, the Commanders seemingly have the franchise tag ready for Chase Young. That said, Young has come up in trades as well.

Despite the Sweat trade making the organization’s choice clear, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates Washington is also taking calls on Young before today’s 3pm CT deadline. These calls have transpired since the Sweat trade, pointing to a potentially shocking move in which Washington trades both its defensive end starters. CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson confirms Washington is still listening on Young.

This has long been classified as an either/or call, with the Commanders making the choice to extend Daron Payne two years after reupping Jonathan Allen. Four big-ticket extensions on one D-line did not make much sense, even with a rookie-QB contract on the books, but three has never been considered out of the question. Washington moving Young as well would effectively signal a reboot after four years of Sweat and Young coexisting. The two, however, mostly coexisted on the team’s payroll; Young missed much of the previous two seasons after suffering a severe knee injury in November 2021.

Teams called the Commanders about Young prior to today’s Bears blockbuster, though Sweat was believed to have generated the first offer. The Bears also contacted the Commanders about Young, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, but they have made their D-end move. It would be interesting to see if the Falcons — also a reported Sweat suitor — move into the mix for Young, now that the Commanders appear open to starting over at defensive end.

It is not known if the Falcons are circling back to the Commanders to pursue a D-end upgrade, but the Patriots have at least inquired what it would take to land Young, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe tweets. This comes as the Pats have discussed Josh Uche with teams. Like Young, Uche is in a contract year. New England has Matt Judon on its books through 2024, though with no veteran-QB salary on the payroll, the team could be envisioning a slot for another highly paid edge rusher. An acquiring team could also use the franchise tag. The 2-6 team not known for big payments does not make too much sense as a buyer, but neither did the Bears, who now have exclusive negotiating rights with Sweat until March.

Young, 24, has bounced back from the severe knee trouble that sidetracked his career. In seven games thus far, Young has five sacks and nine QB hits. Those numbers each top his nine-game 2021 sample. As a result of this return to full strength, Young is not believed to be eager to do an extension before his rookie contract expires at season’s end.

The former Defensive Rookie of the Year also arrived during Ron Rivera and DC Jack Del Rio‘s stay, whereas Sweat was a Bruce Allen-era draftee. That said, Washington picked up Sweat’s fifth-year option and declined Young’s. The former No. 2 overall pick’s past knee trouble has him on course for free agency in 2024, though the Commanders will have the tag available. That is, if they keep him through today’s deadline. The team dealing away both defensive ends would also be an ominous sign for Rivera, who is on the hot seat after a 3-5 start.

Washington has not made Jonathan Allen available, and while the team has Phidarian Mathis as a third D-tackle option of note, no notable investments are here beyond Sweat and Young. Former Eagles seventh-rounder Casey Toohill does have four sacks this season, however. Still, scrapping the Young-Sweat tandem altogether would be one of the most notable decisions the franchise has made in many years.

Latest On Commanders’ Deadline Plans, DE Montez Sweat

October 30th, 2023 at 12:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders saw their record drop to 3-5 on Sunday, potentially giving the team extra incentive to move on from one or more of their players on expiring deals. A surge in deals sending numerous contributors out of Washington should not be expected however.

ESPN’s John Keim reports that the Commanders are unlikely to have a “fire sale.” The team has had a number of close losses, and the landscape of the NFC could keep them in contention for a wild-card spot depending on how the second half of their season goes. Still, it comes as no surprise that defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young have frequently come up in trade talks.

The former in particular has received the most interest, with a third-round pick reportedly on the table from the Falcons. Ben Standig of The Athletic reports that one team has offered a third-rounder which would become a second-round selection in the event Sweat signed an extension. Whether or not that team is Atlanta is unclear, however. Overall, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano confirms Sweat is likelier than Young to fetch a notable trade haul given the latter’s injury history.

Both former first-rounders are pending free agents, and many have questioned Washington’s willingness or ability to retain each of them on lucrative second contracts. To no surprise, the Commanders declined Young’s fifth-year option and decided to evaluate his health in 2023 before making a long-term commitment. The former Defensive Player of the Year has had a strong season to date, though.

The same is true of Sweat, who is playing on his $11.5MM option this year. The 27-year-old (as well as Young) has been the subject of trade inquiries for months, Keim adds, due to his unresolved contract situation. In Sweat’s case, that is not for a lack of desire on the team’s part to work out an agreement. The Commanders wanted to extend Sweat this past offseason, one in which the organization’s purchase by Josh Harris put a halt on contract and staff matters.

The Mississippi State product has racked up 6.5 sacks this year, giving him a strong chance of surpassing his career high (9.0, in 2020). A number of teams could be in the market for help along the edge, but the possibility of receiving a third-round compensatory pick in free agency in the event he departed will give Washington reason to command a high price in any Sweat trade. The Commanders are prepared to keep both of their starting edge rushers in place beyond tomorrow’s deadline, but interest in Sweat in particular will no doubt remain high before then.

Falcons Offer Third-Round Pick For Commanders’ Montez Sweat; Bears Interested In Chase Young?

October 29th, 2023 at 11:42am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 29, 11:42am: The Falcons have offered a third-round pick for Sweat, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Atlanta is sitting atop the NFC South with a 4-3 record and is looking to fortify an already-impressive defense that presently ranks third in yards allowed and ninth in points per game. One thing that defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen‘s unit has not done as well is sack the quarterback, as Atlanta ranks near the bottom of the league with 13 sacks.

Earlier today, we heard that the Falcons were among the clubs expected to stand pat at the deadline, but if the team has its way, that will not be the case. General manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith are in their third season in their respective posts, and it stands to reason that they would want to make an aggressive move to help snap Atlanta’s five-year playoff drought and bolster their job security in the process.

In a separate piece, Florio, citing a league source, reports that the Bears may be interested in Young. Although the 2-5 Chicago outfit presently looks more like a seller than a buyer, the club is flush with 2024 cap space and would be willing to authorize a large extension that would keep Young in the fold for years to come. Young would immediately become a foundational piece of a defense that is in need of more playmakers.

OCTOBER 29, 08:43am: Contrary to Schefter and Breer, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz says that the Commanders are not waiting for the outcome of today’s game against the Eagles and have begun to initiate trade calls on Sweat and Young (video link). While Russini had reported last week that Washington was making calls to gauge the market, Schultz seems to suggest that the team has gone beyond that stage.

If true, that obviously does not help the Commanders’ leverge in negotiations, but they realize it will be exceedingly difficult to retain both players, and the new ownership group apparently believes collecting trade compensation for one of the two defenders will further its goal of building a sustainable franchise.

OCTOBER 28: Plenty of attention is still being paid to the Commanders in advance of the trade deadline, with Chase Young and Montez Sweat known to be available. Neither edge rusher has been moved yet, due to the gap between the team’s asking price and the willingness of interested parties to meet it.

More clarity has emerged on that front. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that the Commanders are seeking a second-round pick in a deal involving either Young or Sweat (subscription required). To date, the team has only received offers closer to a third-rounder, she adds. It is believed Sweat has received more interest than Young so far, with at least one firm offer having been reported in the former’s case.

That comes as little surprise, given Young’s injury history. He appears to have rebounded well from his missed time in 2021 and ’22, however, having played in six of Washington’s seven contests so far. In that stretch, the former Defensive Rookie of the Year has posted five sacks and 18 pressures, putting him on track for a career year in those and other categories. Knowing that, Young is prepared to wait until the offseason to discuss his next contract, regardless of if it comes from the Commanders or another team.

Of course, Washington is prepared to keep both Young and Sweat (who is playing on his $11.5MM fifth-year option and has 5.5 sacks this year) past the trade deadline, a move which would lead to an interesting offseason in their cases. Both will be in line for raises on their next deals, and teams can only place the franchise tag on one player in any given year. With DTs Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne already on the books with lucrative contracts of their own, it would be a challenge to avoid at least one of Young or Sweat testing the open market.

As previous reports have alluded to, both ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated note that tomorrow’s game against the Eagles will go a long way in informing the Commanders’ moves at the deadline. A loss would drop Washington to 3-5, while a win would give them reason for optimism regarding a run to the playoffs in 2023 – an effort which would be hindered by moving one or both of the team’s starting edge rushers. It will be interesting to see how much (if at all) the market for Young and Sweat moves in the lead-up to the October 31 deadline.

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

Commanders DE Chase Young Planning To Delay Contract Talks Until Offseason

October 27th, 2023 at 1:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Chase Young‘s rookie season put him on track to become a clear Washington priority, but a 2021 campaign that involved an ACL tear and patellar tendon rupture changed his NFL path. The former No. 2 overall pick is now in a contract year and has landed in trade rumors.

A team that agrees to acquire the fourth-year defensive end, however, could be obtaining a rental piece. The Commanders did not pick up Young’s fifth-year option, putting him on track for free agency or a franchise tag in 2024. Although Washington could open the door to keeping both Young and Montez Sweat by extending one of them early (and saving the tag for the other), the former does not seem too interested in that path — at least, not right now.

Young would prefer to play out his contract year and address his status with the Commanders (or another team, in the event of a trade) in the offseason, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. This obviously brings some degree of risk, considering the time Young missed over the previous two seasons. But a bet on himself could re-route the former Defensive Rookie of the Year toward a lucrative second deal.

Teaming with Sweat once again, Young is off to a nice start following the injury-plagued stretch. The Ohio State alum has registered five sacks (to Sweat’s 5.5), despite missing the Commanders’ opener due to a non-knee-related injury. In addition to being on pace for his most sacks as a pro, Young has already topped his lackluster 2021 performance. In nine games before the knee injury, Young only tallied 1.5 sacks and four QB hits. He has nine QB knockdowns thus far, making for an interesting contract year. While Young will need to keep showing good form in the season’s final 11 games, he is on pace to command a big contract in 2024.

A year after picking up Sweat’s option, the Commanders passed on Young’s $17.45MM guarantee for 2024. Young having shown little since that impact rookie season put Washington in a bind, when factoring in his draft status, injury history and a new owner coming in. The Young and Sweat decisions will be Josh Harris‘ first set of major personnel calls. At this juncture, it is also premature to suggest either Ron Rivera or GM Martin Mayhew will be in place to make them. That brings another significant complication, pointing to the organization perhaps wanting to wait on a Young contract as well.

Washington appeared close to breaking up its Jonathan Allen–Daron Payne defensive tackle tandem, letting Payne play out a contract year. But the club circled back to Payne via a tag-extension sequence in March. Those two high-end D-tackle deals on the books, though, introduced a complex call for the Commanders at defensive end. A Sweat-or-Young decision has loomed, though an extension for one of them — bringing a lower 2024 cap number — could open the door to both staying. That will depend on how much money Harris and Co. want to allocate to one position group and hinge on the team’s decision at the deadline.

The Commanders are believed to have taken calls on both players, and while they are aiming to keep each, the team potentially staring at a 3-5 record — barring an upset over the Eagles — with two coveted D-ends in contract years would run the risk of a value loss if one of them leaves in free agency. Rivera residing on the hot seat would also point to the Commanders keeping both pass rushers, but at least one team has made an offer for Sweat. It should be expected others will join in, with perhaps Young proposals coming in as well, before the 3pm Tuesday deadline.

After the Commanders spent years assembling this all-first-rounder D-line core, time may be running out on the quartet’s run together. While Young appears fine letting the season play out, Washington has a big-picture decision to make either by the Halloween deadline or at the March deadline to apply franchise tags.

Teams Showing Interest In Commanders’ Chase Young, Montez Sweat

October 25th, 2023 at 10:59am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 25: At least one offer has come in for Sweat, according to Jhabvala, but no known proposals have arrived for Young. The Commanders had viewed Weeks 7 and 8 as critical for their deadline plans, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who adds the team has given the impression it wants to retain Young despite his lack of a contract beyond this season. The 3-4 team losing to the favored Eagles could end up swaying the organization’s trade plans before the Halloween deadline. As of now, however, the Sweat-Young duo remains in place.

OCTOBER 24: As the trade deadline approaches, one of the key questions surrounding the Commanders is how they will proceed with Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Both edge rushers are due for a new contract in the offseason, and their names have come up in trade speculation.

Washington is not actively looking to move either player, but reports have indicated offers will be considered if they check in near the team’s (as of yet unknown) asking price. Of course, that would require sufficient interest on the part of other teams which would be willing to not only pay a notable price in draft capital in a trade, but also make a long-term financial commitment.

On that point, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reports that “several identifiable teams” are prepared to pull off a trade for Young or Sweat and retain them via a long-term deal. Both former first-rounders have been full-time starters during their time in the nation’s capital, though Young’s tenure has been underwhelming in large part due to injuries. The former No. 2 pick has suited up for five games this year, however, and racked up five sacks and 18 QB pressures to date. Those figures have him on track to surpass his production from his Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign in 2020.

Sweat, meanwhile, has put up nearly identical stats this year (5.5 sacks, 17 pressures) while remaining a key component of Washington’s defensive front. That unit already has two major commitments, of course, in the form of defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Young and Sweat will each need lucrative second contracts starting in 2024; the former had his fifth-year option declined in the spring, while the latter is playing out his option this year ($11.5MM).

Many expect the Commanders to simply retain both Young and Sweat through the deadline and attempt to re-sign at least one of them ahead of free agency. As Sam Fortier and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post note, outside executives don’t foresee teams preparing much of a trade offer for either player given their status as a rental. Deadline deals often seen aging veterans moved to contenders for a postseason run, but an exception amongst pass rushers emerged last year when the Broncos dealt Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins for a haul including a first-round pick.

That deal was immediately followed by Chubb inking a five-year, $110MM deal in Miami, making his acquisition a long-term investment. It will be interesting to see if a team demonstrates a willingness to pull off a similar trade-and-sign arrangement in the case of Young and/or Sweat in the coming days.

Commanders Not Looking To Trade DEs Chase Young, Montez Sweat?

October 22nd, 2023 at 8:18am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 22: Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) contradicts Fowler’s report to some degree. She hears that while the Commanders are staying patient for the time being, they have made calls to gauge the market on both Young and Sweat. She gets the sense that one of the two pass rushers will be on the move (provided, of course, that a team meets Washington’s asking price).

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports is more closely aligned with Fowler, saying that there have been no internal conversations about moving either player, since the next two games will be so pivotal in determining the direction of a club that is currently 3-3. Jones believes it is unlikely that either player is traded at the deadline.

OCTOBER 20: As the trade deadline draws closer, many teams have important decisions to make with short- and long-term roster implications. In the case of the Commanders, the team’s plans regarding its top two edge rushers will be worth watching.

Chase Young and Montez Sweat have been mentioned in trade speculation given their lack of commitments beyond this year from Washington. The former is set to hit free agency in March since his fifth-year option was not picked up, while the latter is playing out his option ($11.5MM) this season. Both remain full-time starters whose performances will go a long way in determining their respective futures in the nation’s capital.

On that point, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Commanders plan to have both Young and Sweat in the fold for years to come, meaning they are not looking to trade either of them. Young, the second overall pick in 2020, has been marred by injury troubles since his Rookie of the Year-winning debut season. This year, however, the 24-year-old has suited up in five of six games and produced three sacks and 15 QB pressures.

Sweat leads the Commanders with 4.5 sacks this year, putting him halfway to his career-high in that department from 2020. Washington has posted 19 total sacks this season, demonstrating the effectiveness of its Day 1-laden defensive front – led along the interior by Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen – when healthy. Both Allen (in 2021) and Payne (this past March) inked big-ticket extensions, making it a potentially tricky proposition to commit to one or both of Young and Sweat on lucrative second contracts of their own.

As Fowler adds, the Commanders’ desire to keep both of their starting defensive ends won’t preclude them from listening to offers ahead of this year’s October 31 deadline. In the event a deal were to be given serious consideration and ultimately finalized, Young would be the likelier edge rusher to be moved, Fowler notes. That falls in line with the prevailing thought concerning the latter, who did not come close to replicating his Pro Bowl season from 2020 in his limited action over the two following campaigns (although his play so far this season has been more encouraging).

Sitting at 3-3, the Commanders are one of several teams which cannot be firmly placed into the buyers or sellers category at this point. Continued strong play from both Young and Sweat could make the team’s decision on their fates easier, but interested teams could emerge with a less cumbersome financial outlook along the D-line regarding 2024 and beyond. It will thus be interesting to see how much of a market develops for the pair, and the price at which Washington could be willing to pull off a trade.

Edge Notes: Judon, Sweat, Van Noy, Bears

October 6th, 2023 at 12:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots’ defense has been hit hard by injuries lately, including the torn bicep suffered by pass rusher Matt Judon. The four-time Pro Bowler is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery, and it is doubtful he will be able to return this season.

Judon is likely facing a six-month recovery timeline, as noted by ESPN’s Dan Graziano. That would, of course, shut him down for the remainder of the season – something which would also carry financial implications for him given the nature of his restructured contract. The 31-year-old has expressed a desire to play again this year, though, and Graziano adds he and the Patriots are exploring a recovery path similar to that of Steelers star T.J. Watt.

The latter suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 of last year, an injury which usually shuts players down for the season. The former Defensive Player of the Year managed to recover in time to play in Week 9, however, which helped spark a late-season playoff push in Pittsburgh. Judon will attempt to emulate that, but for now it appears unlikely he will be able to do so.

Here are some other edge-related notes from around the league:

Chase Young and Montez Sweat form the foundation of the pass rush contingent for the Commanders, but one has played to their potential far more than the other. Despite being a former No. 2 pick, Young is in line to reach free agency in March since his fifth-year option was declined amidst major injury concerns and an inability to follow up on an encouraging rookie season. Sweat is likewise in need of a new deal, as he is playing on his $11.5MM option in 2023. Of the two, SI’s Albert Breer expects the latter to be targeted for a long-term second contract over Young. Breer explains that Sweat – who already has 4.5 sacks in 2023, bringing him halfway to matching his single-season high – will likely be easier to extend than Young. With big-money commitments to defensive linemen Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen already in place, Washington would be hard pressed to retain both Sweat and Young on multi-year pacts.
Facing a number of injury concerns amongst their outside linebackers, the Ravens recently signed Kyle Van Noy to serve in a depth capacity. The veteran has proven to be an effective hybrid defender, and his playing time should increase given the fact 2022 second-rounder David Ojabo could miss the rest of the campaign. Van Noy’s arrival in Baltimore could have come much sooner, though. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes that the Ravens tried to sign 32-year-old this offseason, but the sides couldn’t agree on compensation. That opened the door to the team’s Jadeveon Clowney acquisition, but the pair are now in place together. Each will have a role to play as the Ravens look to maintain a top-10 sack total (13 through four games) through the remainder of the year.
The Bears ended their 14-game losing streak last night, but the team’s defensive struggles were deserving of much of the blame for the skid reaching that length. The unit has been hampered in recent years by a lack of established edge rushing options, which made Chicago’s Yannick Ngakoue August signing an unsurprising one. The 28-year-old’s one-year, $10MM pact has led to a pair of sacks so far, but as a team Chicago has registered only seven to date. As a result, defensive end will be a priority in the 2024 offseason, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. The 1-4 Bears will have chances in free agency and the draft to add much-needed contributors on the edge, regardless of if Ngakoue is retained.

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