Washington Commanders Deal Chase Young to San Francisco 49ers at NFL Trade Deadline

The Washington Commanders made a couple of big decisions at the NFL trade deadline, dealing edge rusher Montez Sweat and trading Chase Young.

Just hours after the Washington Commanders traded edge rusher Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick, they finalized their decision on edge rusher Chase Young.

The Commanders chose to trade Young before Tuesday’s trade deadline to the San Francisco 49ers for a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, per FOX Sports insider Jay Glazer.

It’s clear that, at 3-5, Washington doesn’t have a legitimate path to the playoffs, and the front office is acting accordingly. Both Sweat and Young looked to be headed to free agency, and looming extensions did not align with the timeline the Commanders had in mind.

Young sacks New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor / Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

The 49ers have their bye week for Week 9, meaning in all likelihood Young will debut in Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. San Francisco is 5-3 and expected to compete for a Super Bowl. This move only doubles down on those aspirations.

Young will have a homecoming moment in Week 17 when the 49ers visit Washington.

The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft never quite lived up to expectations with the Commanders. Through injuries and a slower transition to the NFL game than fans had hoped Young has generated just 14 sacks during his Washington tenure.

This season, he has five, to go along with six tackles for loss and nine quarterback hits.

San Francisco has landed itself a star who is finally hitting his stride, elevating their defense to the elite level fans have come to expect. Paired with superstar edge rusher Nick Bosa, the 49ers have cemented themselves as one of the league’s most dangerous teams.