The Washington Commanders appeared to have made the right decision when they traded Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers ahead of the 2023 NFL trade deadline.
After winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year in his rookie season, Young, the former No. 2 overall pick, was limited by injury in 2021 and 2022 and was relegated to a backup role in his nine games with San Francisco.
As Young enters free agency for the first time, Bleacher Report’s Joe Tansey listed him as a player the Buffalo Bills, in need of pass-rushing help, should avoid signing.
“The Bills must reconfigure their pass rush with A.J. Epenesa, Jordan Phillips and Shaq Lawson scheduled to hit free agency,” Tansey wrote in a story published February 14. “Chase Young could intrigue the Buffalo front office because his pass-rushing skills, but he could command too much money to fit in the Bills’ plans.”
Instead, Tansey wrote, the draft “seems like the best spot to find any potential pass-rushing replacements at an affordable cost.”
The Bills do have a need for a pass rusher.
“Last year’s draft was the first time the Bills could ignore the defensive end position in many years, but with their current situation, it’s back near the top of the needs list,” The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia wrote on February 6. “The only sure thing they have in their edge rusher group right now is Greg Rousseau. … There is also an added emphasis to take a defensive end early this year, as Rousseau is due a huge pay increase — either in the form of his fifth-year option or a long-term extension — in 2025.”
Commanders Must Replace Chase Young This Offseason
Trading Young and Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bearss in October left the Commanders with a sizable hole to fill on defense.
USA Today’s Commanders Wire listed edge rusher has the team’s second biggest offseason need (after wide receiver) under new head coach Dan Quinn.
“The Commanders will hunt for two starters on the edges,” Bryan Manning wrote in a January 22 story. “While we may not know who the defensive coordinator is, or what type of scheme they will run, we do know Washington badly needs pass-rushing help.”
The Commanders have five picks among the draft’s top 100.
In a February 6 mock draft, ESPN’s Matt Miller projected the Commanders taking Alabama’s Chris Braswell in the second round with the 36th pick overall after selecting North Carolina quarterback Drake Mayes with the second overall pick.
“After addressing quarterback in Round 1 of this mock draft, they can fill that edge rush void here,” Miller wrote.
Chase Young’s Future With the 49ers Is Unclear
In nine games with the 49ers, Young played 58% of the team’s defensive snaps, logging 2.5 sacks, 10 total tackles and 1 pass defended.
Despite not being the force he was during his rookie year, Young, who will turn 25 before the 2024 season starts, has the endorsement of 49ers star Nick Bosa.
“I definitely want Chase back,” Bosa told reporters on February 13, according to 49ers Webzone. “I think any guy that I want back, Kris [Kocurek, defensive line coach] and John [Lynch, general manager] and all them want back too, so we’re on the same page.”
If the 49ers let Young walk in free agency, he is projected to sign a one-year, $13 million deal, according to Spotrac, which would make him the 16th highest paid defensive end in the league.
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Bills Urged to Avoid Former Washington Commanders No. 2 Pick in Free Agency