On Tuesday, the Washington Commanders traded defensive end Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers. Unfortunately, it was another disappointing ending for the Commanders and a player many considered a “generational prospect.”
Remember late in the 2019 season, when the then-Redskins were playing out the string under interim coach Bill Callahan, and many fans wanted the team to lose just to be in a position to select Young?
That feels so long ago. Ron Rivera took over as head coach in 2020, and Young was his first draft pick. Their first year together had a bit of a storybook ending, as the Commanders, despite a 7-9 record, won the NFC East and took the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the limit in the wild-card game.
That would prove to be the peak of the Rivera era. Now, Young and Montez Sweat are gone, and Rivera could be next.
Here are six takeaways from Young’s trade to the 49ers.
It was the right move
As disappointing as it may seem, it was time for the Commanders and Chase Young to part ways. I know there has been a lot of talk about the compensation Washington received for Young. As evident from the Montez Sweat trade, the Commanders were going to hold out for the best deal. It worked to perfection with Sweat. It was the same with Young, his market was nowhere near as strong as Sweat’s for multiple reasons.
Young is having a solid season, but if the Commanders didn’t see him as part of the future, a player they would commit big money to, then moving on was the right move. Washington has its reasons for trading Young.
The honeymoon was over in 2021
Remember the 2020 season when the Commanders surprised everyone and won the NFC East? Even if they did it with a losing record, it was impressive for so many reasons. Rivera courageously battled cancer, quarterback Alex Smith had the most inspiring comeback in NFL history, and Young, the dynamic rookie, was the new centerpiece for the franchise.
Sadly, things went downhill in the spring of 2021 when Young chose not to report to voluntary activities. Coming off an impressive — but not dominant rookie season — Young felt he had arrived. He skipped the offseason program, choosing to film commercials, and that didn’t sit well with the coaches. Rivera mentioned it numerous times. What made things worse was how badly Young struggled through nine games before his knee injury that November.
Last season, Young didn’t return until Week 16. Coaches and players appeared tired of always answering questions about when Young would return. In fairness to Young, he was recovering from a major knee injury.
But things were never quite the same after the spring of 2021.
A fresh start for Young
Chase Young gets a fresh start. He’s not in his hometown anymore. He is nowhere near the biggest star on his new team or defensive line. He will not be expected to come in and post huge numbers. For the 49ers, they are taking a cheap flyer on an elite athlete in their quest for a Super Bowl. If Young plays well in a specialized role, he’ll be paid accordingly in the offseason.
If he doesn’t, the 49ers lose essentially nothing. Young was playing well with the Commanders. But he struggled against better competition. He’ll be used differently with the 49ers, which should help him.
It’s been clear for a while that Young wasn’t happy in Washington.
The start of a new era
On Tuesday, Josh Harris put his stamp on the Washington Commanders. The new owner has stayed in the shadows since taking over in July. He’s supported the players and coaches but stayed away from personnel matters. But on Tuesday, it was his chance to make a statement regarding the franchise’s future.
This wasn’t a case of an owner meddling. This was an example of a new owner doing what was right for the future of his franchise. Harris wasn’t concerned about the immediate future of the 2023 team or the coaching staff; he wanted to do everything he could to set the Commanders up for long-term success. Trading Young and Sweat gave Washington two more picks on day two of the 2024 NFL draft.
Young could make the Commanders regret this trade
There’s a chance that Young makes the Commanders regret this day. Young has the upside to be a terrific player. Will he ever get to that point? If Young becomes a 10-sack guy, that’s excellent, but not enough to make the Commanders regret not making a long-term commitment.
If things had gone as planned, Young would have already signed an extension with the Commanders to be one of the NFL’s highest-paid players. That obviously did not happen. If the Commanders have an excellent offseason and turn things around next season, no one will care that Young is in a different uniform.
Please let's not use the term "generational prospect" again
Remember when every draft analyst referred to Young as a generational prospect? After four years, injury or not, it’s clear Young was not a generational prospect. At the time, though, the Commanders made the right move in selecting Young at No. 2 overall. Things just didn’t work out. No one could’ve predicted the success of Justin Herbert or Tua Tagovailoa.
That generational label had Young believing he was bigger than the franchise at times, yet he was the team’s fourth-best defensive lineman. The injury seemed to humble Young. And, perhaps, the trade will humble him further. Young should take this experience and grow from it. He’s only 24 years old. He’s been called a superstar at every level. Now, he’ll have to earn that label on a star-studded 49ers’ roster.
