Ron Rivera faced a difficult decision during his first draft in 2020. The Washington Commanders had the No. 2 pick, giving them the option of anyone outside Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Some fans were clamoring for Washington to take either Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert. They were strong candidates, but Rivera opted to select generational edge rusher Chase Young.
Things tailed off dramatically for Young after winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Injuries didn't help, and his relationship with those in power soured. Once the decision was made not to extend the player, the Commanders traded him to the San Francisco 49ers for a conditional third-round pick that eventually became wide receiver Luke McCaffrey.
Chase Young is finally becoming the player Commanders envisaged, but not in Washington
Young didn't last long in San Francisco. But just when it looked like belief in his career aspirations was fading, he's finally found a home with the New Orleans Saints.
This is Young's second campaign in New Orleans. It didn't start until Week 6 due to injury, but he's making up for some lost time. One could make a strong case for the Ohio State product playing the best football of his career right now, and although the Saints remain among the bottom feeders, they've shown legitimate signs of life over the last few weeks.
With five sacks, 20 tackles, three pass breakups, 16 run stops, and 20 pressures in just eight games, Young is starting to remind the world why he was such a highly touted college prospect. He might not ever reach his generational hype, but very few do.
Young is under contract with the Saints for two more years. His cap hit skyrockets to $20.52 million next season, which is the biggest annual salary of his professional career to date. And based on his performance surge, New Orleans was correct to give him no real out entering his third year.
It doesn't change the fact that Washington was right to get what they could for Young, rather than lose him for almost nothing. He's outstayed his welcome and was becoming a distraction they didn't need. The Commanders were moving in a different direction in a new era that no longer needed Rivera's services. And they decided that the compensation attached to shipping both starting defensive ends before the 2023 trade deadline was too tempting to turn down.
Sometimes, fits just aren't good. Young also knew that the Saints represented his final chance to solidify his status as a productive starter. That extra piece of urgency provided the springboard for better fortunes when all hope was fading rapidly.
As for the Commanders? They are crying out for more consistent pass-rushers. Funny how life works out sometimes.