Reports broke around midday Wednesday that the Commanders will not exercise Chase Young’s fifth-year option, ending the biggest question surrounding the team’s on-field product a week before the final decision had to be made.
And Kevin Sheehan, reacting to the reports live, was not surprised by the final outcome.
“This is hardly a surprise, and in many ways, I think the outward discussion of it, and almost being a little playful with it last week, was not the way to handle it, but I’ll let that go,” Sheehan said, “The bottom line is they do not trust Chase Young’s commitment level.”
Sheehan noted that after looking at Young’s play last year following his return from a torn ACL, “Chase Young looked like Chase Young,” but he thinks this decision goes back to before Young’s injury.
“I think this goes back to 2021, when they wondered if he was committed at the level they needed of somebody dubbed a team captain,” Sheehan said. “They needed to see Chase Young committed to his craft, period, and they’re not going to pick up his option when there’s a chance they might not want him 2024 – so they’re going to make him go prove that he’s committed, and make sure he produces at a high level.”
If not, that could be good news for Montez Sweat…and this year will go a long way towards that resolution, both for Sweat and Young.
“They’re saying we like you and invested heavily into you,” Sheehan said, “but right now, based on what we see, we need to see you earn that from us. The interesting thing now is it’s all on Chase Young, and I hope the organization hasn’t given up on him.”
Sheehan knows that it’s not just the coaches who have concerns, but he urged the organization to, starting today, “do whatever he needs to make him the best version of himself.”
“You don’t do that for players who aren’t talented, but he is talented, and you don’t bail on one of your most talented players,” Sheehan said. “You exhaust all avenues before you just throw up your arms and say you made a mistake – and I hope that is their mindset.”
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