The 49ers are trading for Commanders pass rusher Chase Young, according to multiple reports Tuesday afternoon. Washington will receive a compensatory third-round pick in return, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
Washington selected Young with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL draft out of Ohio State, and the defensive end had a strong rookie season with 7 1/2 sacks on his way to being named Defensive Rookie of the Year. However, Young suffered a torn ACL nine games into the 2021 season, stunting his growth with the team.
This year, Young is having his best season since his rookie year, totaling five sacks in seven games for Washington. The Commanders declined his fifth-year option in the offseason, making him a free agent after the season.
The Commanders have now traded its two best pass rushers on Tuesday, as they already sent Montez Sweat to Chicago ahead of the trade deadline. Sweat and Young ranked first and second on the team with 11.5 combined sacks this year, as the rest of the team has combined for 13.5 sacks total.
Young is the second pass rusher that San Francisco has acquired midseason, as they traded for veteran Randy Gregory earlier in the season. The newest 49ers pass rusher is now reunited with his former Buckeye teammate Nick Bosa on San Francisco’s defensive line.