There was some debate back in 2020 as to whether Ohio State EDGE Chase Young or LSU quarterback Joe Burrow was the better player. The Bengals wound up selecting Burrow No. 1 overall and Young went second overall to the Commanders.Three years later, the Bengals picked up Burrow's option as they prepare to make him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league. A day later, the Commanders have reportedly declined to pick up Young's fifth-year option, setting him up to hit free agency after the 2023 season. on Wednesday the Commanders have decided not to pick up Young's option that would have guaranteed another year of team control. He would Tyler Bozak Women Jersey have been paid $17.452 million in 2023 under the deal. , that would have made him the 10th-highest paid EDGE in the NFL in 2024.When Young began his career, the idea that he wouldn't have the option picked up when it came time would have seemed unthinkable. He tallied 7.5 sacks with 44 combined tackles in 2020 en route to a Pro Bowl nod and Defensive Rookie of Beau Bennett Men Jersey the Year.MORE: But as the 2022 season came to an end, it no longer appeared to be a guarantee that Washington would be a suring him another season with the team.Why did the Commanders make the decision not to keep Young around another year? Here's what you need to know.Young appeared on course to not only live up to the hype after his rookie season, but to be on track to join the list of the league's most dangerous defensive players. Among EDGE players, Young had the seventh-highest PFF defensive grade (87.1) and had grades of at least 75 in each of run defense, tackling, pa s rush and coverage, the only EDGE to check all four boxes.But rather than progre sing as many expected, Young appeared to take a step back in 2021. The Washington Post reported that during the offseason, he mi sed voluntary workouts to Jay Bouwmeester Men Jersey film an eBay commercial and worked with his uncle on his pa s rush abilities. He had only a 75.1 PFF grade and 1.5 sacks in nine games before he tore his ACL in Week 10.He returned to the Commanders in Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season for three games, but did not tally a sack in any of the contests. His pa s-rush grade dipped from 71.2 before the injury to 62.8 after, though his overall defensive grade went up to 78.4.MORE: Declining his fifth-year option has been a topic of discu sion for some time. The Washington Post reported coach Ron Rivera suggested in February that declining the option could Doug Gilmour Men Jersey motivate Young. A comparison was made to defensive tackle Daron Payne, who had his fifth-year option selected but was not extended. Following a standout 2022, Payne was signed by Washington to a four-year, $90 million deal."If you look at what Daron did, why wouldn't you think of it that way?" Rivera said, per the Post. "It cost us. But it cost us in a good way, because the young man played; he did things the right way."The Commanders could still try to retain Young in the offseason. The Giants, for example, opted not to pick up the fifth-year option of Daniel Jones in the offseason. But after a breakout 2022 season, Jones was signed to a .Further investments in Young would be continuing to put a lot of money in defensive line. In 2024, two of the Commanders' top three cap hits are coming at defensive tackle with Payne ($21.6 million) and Jonathan Allen ($21.5 million). With a , Young on a $17.452 million Jake Dotchin Women Jersey would mean three players on the defensive line would have cost Washington $60.6 million, or 23.7 percent of its cap space. Washington will also have a decision to make on its other standout EDGE, Montez Sweat, who will also hit free agency after the 2023 season.It is clear that Young still has the talent to have a comeback 2023 campaign and earn himself a major payday when he hits free agency at the end of the season. But for now, Washington is playing it safe and not investing too much money in a player who has appeared in just 12 games over the past two seasons with le s-than-desirable production.