John KeimESPN Staff Writer24. May 2023 10:56 am ET3 minute reading
Ron Rivera: Chase Young understands why his option wasn’t taken
Ron Rivera opens up on Chase Young’s mindset after his fifth-year option was not accepted.
ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera said defensive end Chase Young understands why the team didn’t take his fifth-year option.
Rivera said he hopes Young reacts the same way Daron Payne did last season.
Young was eligible for an extension that would have netted him $17.452 million. But Rivera had said earlier in the offseason that he wondered if it would motivate Young, the 2020 draft pick, not to pick it. Young suffered a right cruciate ligament tear and a patellar tendon tear in 2021.
Rivera said he communicated with Young through text messages and conversations. Young hasn’t attended Washington’s offseason voluntary practice since opening week in April and prefers to train elsewhere.
“He gets it, he gets it,” Rivera said of the fifth-year option. “He will come in and give everything he has. Look what Daron did.”
“People who produce for us, we want to keep them. That was the message. I believe.” [Young] has adapted well to it. he works hard I look forward to seeing him if he needs to be here.
While Washington exercised Payne’s option to a fifth year, he was not offered a contract extension during the final season break. There were concerns this would result in Payne leaving via free agency. However, Payne responded with his best season – recording a loss with 11.5 sacks and 18 tackles. Both were by far career highlights. He’s also earned a Pro Bowl spot.
In March, Payne and the Commanders agreed to a four-year, $90 million deal.
Young received the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award with 7.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries – including one for a touchdown. Injured in nine games that season, Young had just 1.5 sacks and frustrated coaches with his pass-rush approach.
He returned for the final three games of 2022.
His defensive colleague Montez Sweat has also not shown up for the voluntary training sessions since the opening week. After the season he will be a free agent. Rivera said he doesn’t think their absences were due to their contract situation, as both have missed parts of voluntary training in the past.
The obligatory mini camp in Washington takes place from June 6th to 8th.
“You always like to have all your people here,” Rivera said. “It is voluntary. We get it.”