While the NFL trade deadline doesn’t quite pack the punch of some other leagues’, some deals did break on Tuesday afternoon.
Chase Young was one of those players on the move, as he crossed the country from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco. The young defensive lineman for the Washington Commanders will now have a chance to play for a legitimate contender after three-plus years in the nation’s capital.
But what about the 49ers?
The NFC West club has bolstered its already sturdy defense, but the acquisition of Young does more than simply add another name to the roster. While the cost wasn’t outlandish, the trade does confirm that the 49ers are a win-now team.
Let’s break it down.
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The 49ers Have Bolstered Their Defense
Although the modern NFL has become an increasingly offensive league, there’s still some truth to the cliché that defense wins championships. San Francisco, it seems, is leaning into its strengths on that side of the ball.
Through eight weeks of the 2023 campaign, the Niners rank fifth in points allowed (17.5 per game). They also boast the league’s fifth-toughest run defense (giving up a measly 86.1 yards per contest) and are within the top 10 defenses in terms of total yards allowed (315 per game).
That defensive front is headlined by Nick Bosa, who has three sacks in eight games. While the defensive end has admitted that his start isn’t up to his own high standards, he’ll now have some help.
On Tuesday afternoon, news broke that the 49ers were trading for Young. Ian Rapoport, Adam Schefter and Jay Glazer all reported that San Francisco will send a midlevel draft pack east in exchange for the defensive lineman.
Trade II: Washington is dealing DE Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers for a third-round pick, per sources.
On the trade deadline day, Washington now has moved on from Young and Montez Sweat, once viewed as foundational players.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2023
Young, the former Ohio State Buckeye, will make San Fran’s defensive front that much more intimidating. He’s capable of generating plenty of pressure, even if the sacks aren’t there. This year alone, for example, he’s pressured the opposing QB 18 times. When you place that alongside Bosa, opposing defenses will have to pick their poison.
Add some capable run-stopping ability into the mix and San Francisco could be a reasonable place for Young to land. He doesn’t have to be a star in the Bay Area. To some extent, he can play his game without the pressure of being “the man.”
The 49ers Have to Make the Most of 2023
Now that we’ve talked about on-field fit, we can zoom out a bit further and consider the organizational perspective. While San Francisco didn’t exactly give away a fortune for Young, the move does suggest that the club sees 2023 as a window of opportunity.
This year, the Niners have the luxury of cap space. With Brock Purdy making metaphorical pennies, plus favorable contracts for the likes of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, the team has plenty of room to strengthen its roster.
In the future, though, that won’t be the case. According to Over the Cap, San Francisco has less than $2 million of wiggle room for 2024, with players like Trent Williams, George Kittle, Samuel and Aiyuk carrying significantly larger cap hits. That’s not a death sentence, but it does make things a bit tougher.
Young, for example, probably won’t be able to stay in town. Barring some cap management, the 49ers won’t have the ability to make major offseason moves. Next year’s trade deadline—at least as much as we can predict a year out—will probably be quiet.
That makes the 2023 season that much more important. And while adding a single player to the roster isn’t exactly swinging for the fences, adding Young suggests that San Francisco’s brass understands that reality.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.