This past summer, the Commanders declined Young’s fifth-year option.

Before the trade deadline on October 31, the Washington Commanders will have to make an intriguing choice about edge rusher Chase Young, who is expected to become a free agency this offseason. To recover some draft money, a new suggestion suggests exchanging the previous No. 2 overall pick.

In a recent list of 10 trades they think should occur before the trade deadline, Pro Football Focus predicted that Young would be sent to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for third-round picks in 2024 and 2025.

“You can make a legitimate case that this trade is way too much and also too little,” PFF wrote. “It’s arguably too much because there’s a very realistic scenario where Young becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season and is free to sign with any team for zero draft pick capital. It’s arguably too little because Washington could, in theory, extend fellow edge defender Montez Sweat before the franchise tag deadline and then place the tag on Young.”

After a torn right ACL cost him the better part of the last two seasons, Young has rebounded nicely so far in 2023. Despite a neck stinger holding him out in Week 1, Young already has 12 combined tackles, seven quarterback hits, three tackles for a loss and three sacks.

This past summer, the Commanders declined Young’s fifth-year option; as a result, unless they sign him to a long-term contract or apply the franchise tag, he will be free agent this offseason.

There’s a case to be made for receiving compensation rather than letting Young go in free agency if the Commanders decide not to pursue one of those two options with him in the upcoming offseason. The issue is that Washington is still in the NFC playoff race with a 3-3 record. It’s unlikely that Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew would sell by the trade deadline given that Josh Harris, the incoming owner, may put them under pressure.

Nevertheless, Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen, two of Washington’s top interior defenders, already have long-term contracts. Montez Sweat is playing on his fifth-year option and is in a contract year, as was previously noted. It’s reasonable to question whether Washington, after paying Allen and Payne, Sweat and Young, will be able to assemble a winning squad. That would be a massive amount of money spent on just one player on the squad.

Young would be a particularly intriguing signing for the Ravens as they attempt to contend in a competitive AFC playoff run. Additionally, it would be a remarkable development if Young switched teams in Maryland. It seems unlikely from here, but at least.