4. Chase Young will flirt with 10 sacks
In 2020, Washington pass-rusher Chase Young showed everyone why he should be considered one of the best defensive players in the league. The rookie out of Ohio State made 32 tackles, forced four fumbles, and recorded 7.5 sacks, earning him AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Young suffered a season-ending ACL tear the following season, and this past season, he was limited to just three games with the Commanders. The defensive talent knows in Year 4 he must produce and here's why.
There's a lot of pressure on the pass-rusher to succeed or his tenure with the Commanders may be over sooner than later. Earlier this offseason, Washington declined to exercise Young's fifth-year option, which means the former first-round selection will become a free agent following the 2023 season.
The Washington Commanders franchise were recently sold to a new ownership group. The organization will now be in the hands of Josh Harris and his team of investors. The new ownership could mean a new look and maybe even new team name. This could also mean a rebuild for the Commanders' front office, coaching staff, and players if they don't exceed expectations in 2023.
Young will exceed those expectations next season. The pass-rusher is due for a big year, and he will return to his proper form with a monstrous performance in 2023 and show the rest of the league why he is one of the most dangerous players in the NFL.