4 Commanders players who desperately need to develop in 2023

Chase Young – Commanders DE

After flashing enormous promise as a rookie, things haven’t gone according to plan for Chase Young. The defensive end came to the Washington Commanders with generational traits, but the 2023 campaign promises to be a career-defining one for the No. 2 overall selection in 2020.

Young has all the tools to become dominant. Injuries haven’t helped his cause over the last two seasons, with just 1.5 sacks in that span further raising concerns.

The Commanders have a big decision to make regarding Young’s fifth-year option in the coming weeks. Do they bet on the player staying healthy and making a leading contribution or stand pat in case this concerning career trend continues next time around?

This option could end up costing Washington more in the long run. But either way, Young should be highly motivated to prove his ever-growing doubters wrong when competitive action resumes.

If Young can progress his skills and stay healthy, it’ll make a substantial difference to a defensive front that could lose Daron Payne in free agency. Anything less would be nothing short of disastrous.

The former Ohio State sensation has all the athletic attributes needed to take the league by storm next season. However, given Young’s recent complications, nobody could say that with any great confidence.