LATEST: Bills Urged to Avoid Another Top NFL Star in Free Agency
The Washington Commanders’ decision to trade Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers ahead of the 2023 NFL trade deadline appears to have been justified. Despite winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year in his debut season, Young faced setbacks due to injuries in 2021 and 2022, leading to a backup role during his tenure with San Francisco.
As Young becomes a free agent for the first time, Bleacher Report’s Joe Tansey advised the Buffalo Bills against pursuing him for pass-rushing assistance. Tansey highlighted the Bills’ need to rebuild their pass rush, especially with impending free agents like A.J. Epenesa, Jordan Phillips, and Shaq Lawson. While acknowledging Young’s formidable pass-rushing abilities, Tansey cautioned that his potential price tag might not align with the Bills’ financial plans.
Instead, Tansey suggested that the draft might offer a more feasible avenue for the Bills to acquire pass-rushing talent at a more reasonable cost.
The Bills indeed face a pressing need for a pass rusher, as highlighted by The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia. Despite addressing other positions in last year’s draft, the defensive end position has resurfaced as a priority. With Greg Rousseau being the only certainty in their edge rusher group, there’s a heightened urgency to bolster this area, particularly considering Rousseau’s looming contract situation in 2025, which could entail a substantial pay increase.
Commanders Must Replace Chase Young This Offseason
The trade of Chase Young and Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears in October left the Washington Commanders with a significant gap to address on defense.
According to USA Today’s Commanders Wire, edge rusher ranks as the team’s second most pressing need in the offseason, trailing only wide receiver under the leadership of new head coach Dan Quinn. Bryan Manning emphasized in a January 22 article that the Commanders are in search of two starting players on the edges, recognizing the urgent necessity for bolstering their pass rush.
Despite uncertainties regarding the defensive coordinator and scheme, it’s evident that Washington is in dire need of pass-rushing assistance.
With five picks within the draft’s top 100 selections, the Commanders have ample opportunity to address this need.
In a mock draft dated February 6, ESPN’s Matt Miller projected the Commanders to select Alabama’s Chris Braswell in the second round with the 36th overall pick. This comes after their selection of North Carolina quarterback Drake Mayes with the second overall pick in the first round.
Miller reasoned that after securing a quarterback in the first round, the Commanders could use their second-round pick to address their void in the edge rush position.
Chase Young’s Future With the 49ers Is Unclear
During his nine-game stint with the San Francisco 49ers, Chase Young participated in 58% of the team’s defensive snaps, tallying 2.5 sacks, 10 total tackles, and 1 pass defended.
Despite not displaying the same dominance as his rookie season, Young, who will reach the age of 25 before the start of the 2024 season, received an endorsement from 49ers star Nick Bosa.
“I definitely want Chase back,” Bosa expressed to reporters on February 13, as reported by 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 decide not to retain Young in free agency, he is projected to command a one-year deal worth $13 million, according to Spotrac. This contract would position him as the 16th highest-paid defensive end in the league.