The struggling and floundering 49ers made a massive move ahead of Tuesday’s 1 p.m. NFL trade deadline, acquiring former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Chase Young from the Washington Commanders for a 2024 third-round draft pick.
Why would the Leaders give up the former No. 2 overall draft pick in 2020 for just a third-round pick?
San Francisco Chronicle Mike Silver provided insight In Washington’s opinion of Young.
“Young is viewed, according to many Commanders coaches and other organizational sources, as an undisciplined player who has developed bad habits such as deviating from assignments in an attempt to make great plays,” Silver wrote Tuesday. “His off-field priorities and commitment to his craft were often questioned, and internally he was viewed as an up-and-coming player.”
If many people inside the Leaders building feel that way about a player as talented as Young, it explains why they won’t pick up his fifth-year, $17.452 million option or sign him to a contract extension beyond this year.
The 49ers have to hope that bringing Young into their locker room brings out the best in the former Ohio State star.
Young will now be reunited with former Buckeyes teammate Nick Bosa, who should benefit from having a dynamic pass rusher on the other side of the defensive line. The duo could be unstoppable if they play to the best of their abilities.
If Young, who tore his ACL in 2021, can harness his potential and fix any discipline issues that may exist, the 49ers should benefit greatly from his addition.
But if the same issues continue in San Francisco, the 49ers could move on from Young at the end of the 2023 season and allow him to head to free agency.
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