4 Commanders players trending towards draft bust status in 2023

Chase Young – Commanders DE

• No. 2 overall selection (2020)

Chase Young was in rare air when he entered the NFL. Few prospects come into the league with the generational tag, but it was something he was richly deserving of after a sensational stint with Ohio State.

The early signs were promising after the Washington Commanders took the defensive end at No. 2 overall. Young came on leaps and bounds over the second half of 2020, winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year thanks to his encouraging progress.

What’s come after that has been problematic.

To put it mildly.

Young has featured just 12 times over the last two years due to injury and gained only 1.5 sacks during that span. Washington’s coped without him thanks to their depth across the defensive line, but they’ll need him fit and firing on all cylinders to stand any chance of making a playoff return next time around.

The Commanders have a big decision to make regarding Young’s fifth-year option before then, which stands at just over $17 million. Do they take the risk with a player that’s having trouble staying healthy or wait it out and potentially pay more in the long run?

It’s a complex predicament. But if Young cannot produce the goods in 2023, then the draft bust tag won’t be too far behind.