Commanders trade former No. 2 pick Chase Young to 49ers, Montez Sweat to Bears draft picks
The Chicago Bears acquired the pass rusher from Washington for a 2024 second-round pick, according to a person with knowledge of the trade.
The San Francisco 49ers got some help for their struggling defense, acquiring edge rusher Chase Young from the Washington Commanders for a conditional third-round draft pick.
Two people with knowledge of the deal confirmed that Young, the the 2020 No. 2 pick and Defensive Rookie of the Year, was headed to San Francisco, pending a physical, following the trade agreed to before Tuesday’s deadline. The people spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t announced it.
Earlier Tuesday, the Chicago Bears acquired pass rusher Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders for a 2024 second-round draft pick, a person with knowledge of the trade told the Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because neither team had announced the deal.
Young will team up with his former Ohio State teammate Nick Bosa to give the Niners (5-3) a formidable edge rushing duo and provide a needed boost for a team on a three-game losing streak.
Young, 24, whose fifth-year option was declined by the Commanders in April, has been playing at a high level this season after two injury-plagued years. He has five sacks in seven games this season — two more than anyone on the 49ers — and is tied for eighth in the league with 38 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
In Sweat, Chicago (2-6) gets a disruptive defender with a pattern of consistent production. He has 6½ sacks this season and 35½ to go along with 197 tackles since Washington drafted him in the first round in 2019.
Sweat, 27, is in the final year of his rookie contract and looks primed for a big payday in free agency, whether it's with the Bears or elsewhere.
The Commanders are 3-5 after losing five of six since starting the season with back-to-back victories. Backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett and running back Antonio Gibson also are trade candidates as new ownership looks to jump-start a rebuild.
Sweat and Young won’t be part of the future in Washington after the front office already committed big money to defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.
After a 38-31 loss Sunday to Philadelphia, Sweat said his agent was keeping him abreast of any trade talks.
“Anything can happen, but I can only control what I can,” Sweat said, acknowledging the possibility of being moved. “Yeah, that thought goes across your mind, but you hate to think like that.”
Coach Ron Rivera, in his fourth season in charge of Washington’s football operations, refused Monday to discuss anything related to the trade deadline, including hypothetically who would step into a starting role of Sweat or Young were no longer around. That figures to be veteran Casey Toohill, who has four sacks this season.