The Five O’Clock Club: Leaders exchange chances in rejected five-year options
The league becomes agitated whenever a club rejects a player’s fifth-year option, as Washington did with Chase Young last month. A player the team considered deserving of a first-round selection has declined in value in just three years to the point where the team is ready to take a chance on losing him when his rookie contract expires. The risk is that a once-highly-sought player will leave in free agency; the best the team can hope for in that scenario is a potential compensatory draft pick, and that is not guaranteed. Of course, the team might retain him through the use of the franchise tag or a contract extension (or both).
This might prompt a front desk to search for traders at any point between mid-February and the trading deadline, which falls at the end of October or the beginning of November.
Here at Hogs Haven, trade rumors abound. This offseason, in particular, has been filled with speculative blogs and radio call-in shows proposing fictitious trades for Chase Young, who is likely the most well-known NFL player to have had his fifth-year option rejected this offseason.
That transaction won’t take place, at least not until the franchise has been sold. Although Ron Rivera commended the Snyders for enabling the front office to sign Daron Payne’s agreement before he entered free agency, the head coach has subsequently discussed the limitations placed on him and the front office when it comes to making important long-term organizational and personnel choices. He reiterated the theme during minicamp:
Not until after the ownership shift, which may occur in as little as five weeks. In the meanwhile, significant deals might occur in the NFL until Halloween. In fact, it appears that mid-season deals may be more likely than preseason moves for players whose fifth-year option was refused.
Not that I’m here to discuss trading Chase Young; instead, I’m here to discuss a few other players whose fifth-year options were declined and who the Commanders front office may target between now, in mid-July, when ownership changes, and the trade deadline, which is at the end of October.
