Andrew Buller-Russ
Back in 2020, the Washington Commanders held the second overall pick in the NFL Draft, where star Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young was widely viewed as one of the best players available. The Commanders, led by Ron Rivera, didn’t hesitate to make the freakish 6-foot-5 pass rusher their top pick, hoping he’d quickly develop into a franchise cornerstone.
Young started his career with a bang, racking up 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and 44 tackles while winning Defensive Rookie of the Year.
But then injuries crept in, and Young played in just 12 games across his next two seasons, where he’d tally just 1.5 sacks. This led to the Commanders opting against picking up Young’s fifth-year contract option, setting him up for unrestricted free agency after the 2024 season.
Yet, the Commanders didn’t want to lose their former top draft pick for nothing, so they shipped him to San Francisco for a third-round selection in 2024. The move, or more so, the decision not to try and retain a player with so much potential came as a surprise, even if there were no indications of a long-term extension being discussed.
So, why were the Commanders so willing to part with a player who many view still has an extremely high ceiling? It reportedly came down to one major issue.
According to ESPN’s John Keim, the Commanders “grew tired of trying to get Young to play within their system.” Yet, they also knew they didn’t have any plans to commit to a long-term extension with a player who’s likely to still command a large salary.
While Young was seemingly working out just fine before the trade, recording five sacks in seven games for Washington, he’s now in a much better situation with the 49ers, where he gets a chance to double his amount of playoff games played with his next appearance.
Young has accrued 2.5 sacks in seven games with the 49ers, but he’s still getting up to full speed in their system too. Yet, based on reports out of the Commanders organization, Young doesn’t exactly stay within the scheme anyway. Either way, chances are the 49ers are thrilled to have him creating havoc on the defensive line along with Nick Bosa.
Related: 2023 NFL defense rankings: Week 17 fantasy defense rankings, best and worst NFL defenses
