One day before the NFL Draft gets underway, the big news of the day in DC was the report that the Commanders will not be exercising Chase Young's fifth-year option – and as Grant & Danny opened their show reacting to that news, we found out that maybe this wasn't supposed to be known for another week, when the May 2 deadline hit.
"The team, from what I was told, did not plan on this getting out, and wanted it to be a May 2 story," Grant said. "The agent I think found out and got the word out, but regardless: the Commanders have decided that instead of paying Chase Young $17.5 million in 2024, they're going to send a message, make him earn it, and try to motivate him to go out and ball out."
To Danny, performance says it was the right move – and even if he is great, all it will cost them to maybe have Young for a fifth year is a couple extra million dollars, which they'd maybe rather add on to a spend on a known quantity.
"The biggest argument for picking it up that I've heard is this fever dream of panic of 'what if he balls out and is great?'" Danny replied. "First of all, he hasn't been for the last two years, pick whatever reason you want, but 1.5 sacks over two seasons, injuries or otherwise, is not what you want out of a No. 2 overall pick. But, the delta between the fifth-year option and the franchise tag is not big enough to warrant spending $17.5 million. That insurance policy, in terms of real dollars allocated, isn't much.
If he has 13 sacks and is awesome this year, worst case, you tag him, and it only costs you a little more."
Grant chimed in that it's going to be about $7 million, but even still, that's not much for Danny to add on rather than spend 2.5 times that now.
"What I have the last three years is disconnect between him and the organization," Danny said. "Whoever is to blame, they were not on the same page, which tells you something is simmering under the surface, and that $7 million it costs you as insurance if he plays well, that's worth it to me.
That is something I'd put to the side and say we'll do this if we have to, but we're betting we won't have to."
To Grant Paulsen, though, the math is secondary to performance of the past.
"I think it's way less complicated than the math: he has not earned $17.5 million in 2024, he just hasn't," Grant said. "I can't really understand any argument anyone could make saying they should have picked this option up, unless you are loudly a person who has been defending Chase Young all along, and still don't see what the rest of us see."
Alas, Young is now just one of three players selected in the Top 2 over the last decade to not have that option picked up, following in the ignominious footsteps of Mitchell Trubisky and Greg Robinson – and there's clearly a reason for that.
"I don't know how you can approach this in a reasonable, unbiased way and say the guy who, over the last two years, has been equivalent to a defensive end fifth on your depth chart and missed 22 games with a torn ACL, is worth paying near top of the league money," Grant said. "After two years and 12 games of very little production when he was on the field, and telling us how serious this injury is? You can't have your cake and eat it too, and this was such a no-brainer for me."
Grant also brought up how the team has had some questions about Young's commitment and maturity, and that this is simply the best way to go about it…and, "if they're wrong about it, they still win, because they can franchise tag him, so it's a win-win."
Hear the entire discussion between Grant & Danny above!
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