The Commanders indeed made Chase Young available following the Montez Sweat trade, and they will send him to one of the NFC favorites. The 49ers are acquiring the former Defensive Rookie of the Year, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reports.
This marks San Francisco’s third high-profile defensive line addition this year. The team gave Javon Hargrave a big-ticket deal in March, and the Broncos sent over Randy Gregory a few weeks ago. After two sluggish defensive outings, the 49ers are not stopping there. Barely an hour before the trade deadline, Young will follow Sweat out of Washington.
[RELATED: 49ers Pursuing Bears CB Jaylon Johnson]
Young will fetch the Commanders a 2024 third-round pick from the 49ers, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. It will come from the 49ers’ endless supply of NFL-awarded compensatory picks — for seeing minority staffers hired as HC or GM elsewhere — according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Bears sent the Commanders a second-rounder for Sweat earlier today.
This will reunite Young with former Ohio State teammate Nick Bosa and add to one of the most star-studded defensive lines in recent NFL history. The 49ers also have veteran defensive tackle Arik Armstead in place. The prospect of a Bosa-Armstead-Hargrave-Young D-line is imminent, which stands to bolster a team coming off two upset losses.
For the Commanders, this constitutes a rebuilding step. Although the 3-5 team has not made Jonathan Allen available and will keep the veteran defensive tackle alongside the recently extended Daron Payne, its prized D-end duo is gone in a day. The Commanders did not pick up Young’s fifth-year option in May, putting both he and Sweat in contract years. While it would have been logical for a coach on the hot seat to push to keep both players, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports ownership played a major role in these trades being completed.
Others in the Commanders’ building wanted the team to retain the young defensive ends, Russini adds, but ownership looks to have led the way here. It was assumed either Sweat or Young would be franchise-tagged in 2024, but Washington has instead cleared the decks for Day 2 draft capital. Considering where Young was as a rookie, this represents an underwhelming return. But the former No. 2 overall pick missed half of the 2021 season and almost all of 2022 due to the ACL tear and patellar tendon rupture he suffered in November 2021. It has taken him a while to rebuild his value, and the former Heisman finalist will finish out his attempt to do so in San Francisco.
Through seven games (six starts) this season, Young has five sacks and nine QB hits. The talented edge rusher has shown much better form compared to the previous two seasons. On that note, Young was believed to be uninterested in extension talks this year. It will be interesting to see if this bet on himself will carry over to the Bay Area, as the 49ers likely will want him as more than a rental. San Francisco will have the option of franchise-tagging Young in 2024. With Brock Purdy‘s rookie contract in place, the 49ers may attempt to do what the Commanders would not: have four D-linemen signed to big-ticket contracts.
While the 49ers will be giving up a third-round pick, the team had two selections in Round 3 of next year’s draft already. Having continually seen their minority assistant coaches and front office staffers earn HC or GM jobs elsewhere, the 49ers have collected a handful of third-round picks under the revised Rooney Rule. They have two more coming in 2024, via the Titans’ hiring of Ran Carthon as GM and Texans hiring DeMeco Ryans as HC. This stream of third-round picks goes through 2025, via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.
San Francisco is also expected to pick up a compensatory third-rounder in exchange for the Broncos signing Mike McGlinchey to a top-five right tackle contract. The team could add another third-round comp pick if Young leaves, but it would seem the 49ers would prefer this not be a true rental add.
49ers D-line coach Kris Kocurek has been credited with leading emergences of various Bosa sidekicks — from Arden Key to Samson Ebukam to Charles Omenihu. The well-regarded position coach will work with a higher-end talent in Young, with Gregory now in place as more of a rental. Despite Gregory’s Broncos-built deal running through 2026, none of the money on that $14MM-AAV pact is guaranteed beyond 2023. The 49ers are also paying Gregory the veteran minimum, with the Broncos responsible for the rest.
John Lynch had said the 49ers planned to roll over most of their NFL-leading cap-space number to 2024. Young will only be attached to a $1MM base salary through season’s end. The 49ers will retain much of their cap space, though a chunk would need to go to Young — via an extension or tag.
As the 49ers will attempt to use this acquisition to bounce back from their two disappointing defensive showings, the Commanders will see their second Eagles defeat this year key what could be an awkward transition. Rivera is squarely on a hot seat, having not produced a winning record yet in Washington. This would be the second time the former NFC champion HC would be fired by a new owner, with that happening in David Tepper‘s second season (2019). Sweat and Young’s exits will certainly weaken the Commanders, even with ex-seventh-rounder Casey Toohill having four sacks as a backup.
The Commanders have never made five picks in the first three rounds of a draft previously (h/t ESPN’s Field Yates), with the George Allen era and Robert Griffin III trades headlining past hurdles on this front. In Harris’ first months as owner, the team will have this opportunity. Of course, it will risk seeing Sweat and Young play their best years in other NFC cities.
Only a 3rd??? Am I missing something?
Seriously! Wouldn’t they have basically gotten a 3rd round pick just by letting him sign elsewhere in the off-season?
No because they didn’t pickup his 5th year option. They we’re going to lose him for nothing.
That’s not necessarily true, they could have gotten a comp pick for another team signing him to a big, long-term deal.
Right. That seemed pretty likely, imo.
It also depends on what they sign in the offseason. If they sign to many good players themselves, they might get nothing.
Leonard Williams got a 2nd and a 5th. I would have thought Young would be comparable in value, but his extensive injury history drags his value down. This is not a bad deal for Washington, especially if they had no designs on re-signing him.
Well really a 4th, comp picks come at the end of round 3…. Yep Lynch has screwed us again
True, but the 49ers are good enough that their 3rd round pick won’t be that much nicer than the comp pick.
But if the Commanders sign a bunch of good free agents, that might keep them from a comp pick. This way, they are guaranteed a pick.
I didn’t see them trading both away.
I did. They want the new GM & HC to have plenty of cap room and picks to build the team.
DITTO …………
They’re already loaded with cap space, and would’ve recouped a 3rd for him anyway had he refused to sign.
I thought Young was gone for sure, and I thought that San Fran would get him, but I thought he’d go for a second and Sweat would possibly go for a third somewhere else. Can’t remember if it was on one of these articles that someone else and I discussed Young to the 9ers. Maybe richardc proposed that as well there.
In any case, I thought for sure that Young would fetch a second, and Sweat a third or fourth. It’s a bit surprising to me to see that reversed, but considering the fact that Young will need a new deal and that he may have theoretically departed his trade destination after this year, perhaps it makes more sense that he went for a lesser pick.
Why does anyone care what you thought would happen?
Do you people really not understand comment sections?
You’re right. A comment section is no place for opinions.
…and what do you mean, YOU PEOPLE?
The Bears are a pathetic excuse. Had to pay more for the less effective edge rusher. Stellar job.
I’ve trashed the Bears for that trade all morning, but in their defense, availability is the best ability and Young comes with high durability concerns. I’m guessing there was more league-wide interest in Sweat for that reason only. But they shouldn’t have made that trade anyway, so piling on is still logical lol
Really? Sweat is the more established player and doesn’t carry the injury baggage. PFF rates him as #3 against the run and he has more sacks than Young. It’s a need they were going to have to address and yes, it cost a second round pick (‘24 or ‘25’? They have two in ‘25), but they don’t have to wait til free agency when the price will be even higher.
Don’t try talking facts like it makes any difference in arguments on this site. Lol
I agree with most of this sentiment, Rondon, except relying solely on sacks is not a good indicator of the better player. In 2023, Young’s pass rush win rate is 24% while Sweat’s is 8%.
True. I think all things considered, they’re both top tier and regardless of specialties, they need help all across that D line so either one is an upgrade for the group they have.
I would agree with that fully. And I do think Sweat is the better bet, so I think your overall sentiment is correct.
Exactly, gotta love the “expert take” of citing sacks as the sole stat that matters, when sacks have such a massive luck component factored into them in the real world.
What are the Commanders doing lol
Im guessing getting pucks to trade up for a real QB.
Also: picks!
For a real QB? Howell is a top 5-10 QB in the league. Smdh
I hope this is a joke
Punting on 2023 and committing to a rebuild,it looks like.
We all know it was going to be a sub .500 season. The team came second to the new ownership group taking over. One less year of a buyout for the GM & Ron as well.
Fresh start w/ cap space and picks for the next tandem.
Damn they actually did it lmao
32 missed tackles and allowing open throws…
Schematics and a lack of fundamentals are the 49ers defensive issues, Chase Young helps, but a CB would help more..
Oliver was horrible v bengals
He’s been horrible all year, getting a CB and moving DeMo to Nickel should have been the priority.
Oliver has allowed something like an 85% completion percentage!!! He’s been adequate in some aspects, but defending the pass hasn’t been one of them. He’s been downright HORRIBLE all season long.
Add in the missed tackles with allowing completions and that’s a recipe no defense can overcome no matter how talented they might be.
This should theoretically lead to them not having to keep blitzing and have more LB over the middle in coverage cutting off the biggest problem on the defense.
It’ll help some, but as long as their DBs are allowing short completions over and over again, and then guys like Greenlaw missing tackles on top of it, there’s a very small chance for success.
I also happen to think Greenlaw is trying to play through being hurt, so the week off should help him immensely. Just as getting back Trent Williams and Deebo should help the offense.
49ers haven’t been able to run to their left since Trent has been out averaging like a yard or two per carry, as opposed to averaging roughly 5 yards to the left when Trent Williams was in the lineup…
I wonder if Luter Jr. might ever be healthy, since they didn’t make any other additions…Idk, but Oliver has been a near guaranteed completion this year.
I’m curious as to which is higher, Oliver’s completion percentage allowed when targeted or QBs targeting wide open receivers..lol Sadly, I’d imagine they’re about the same, which is downright atrocious…
85%……85 $^#%@%#× percent!!! How is that even possible to be THAT bad? lol
Ward has at least been rated well this season, as a top 10-15 guy, Lenoir has been rated outside the top 50…Not very good…
You don’t have to make sure your CB’s are giving such massive cushions that are leading to those completion rates if you have an overwhelming 4 man pass rush that gets home consistently. Couple that with an athletic group of LB’s and you have a recipe for totally shutting down everything from the LOS to 30 yards down the field.
Now fire Steve Wilks and they should be good to go.
Niners were already one of the strongest looking contenders and now they’ve just gotten better.
It’s just that no one fears Brook Purdy and in recent weeks he’s shown that he struggles under pressure to get it done.
Washington should have traded Young for a defensive starter at another position (Rasul Douglas would have been a good swap).
Who’d thunk that the game is decided by the skill of the players but by the color of the skin of some irrelevant staffer? Certainly not MLK
I think you are slapping your nuts too hard.
Who woulda thunk that the outcome of games wouldn’t be solely dependent on the players and coaches, but also the skin color of some irrelevant staffer? Definitely not MLK
I think you are slapping other people’s nuts too much.
Chase Young is nothing but a muscle. He doesn’t play smart/disciplined football, thus he isn’t likely to be the answer to the 49er’s recent defensive collapse.