• The 49ers have become a model franchise in a lot of ways, and one is how they’ve been able to develop young coaches and executives. And there’s been a benefit on the other end of it (one that other teams, most prominently Carolina, have started to pursue) that pays off at times like this.
Thanks to Robert Saleh, Martin Mayhew, Mike McDaniel, DeMeco Ryans and Ran Carthon getting head coaching and general manager jobs—and through the NFL’s system for rewarding teams who develop diverse candidates into those positions—San Francisco has amassed a raft of compensatory third-round picks. Thus far, they’ve used those picks on cornerback Ambry Thomas, receiver Danny Gray, kicker Jake Moody, tight end Cameron Latu and in trades up for Trey Lance in 2021 and J’Ayir Brown in ‘23.
Now, they’ll send one to the Commanders for Chase Young. And the really wild thing here is that if Young plays great, they either keep him, or let him walk in free agency and get a third-round comp pick back in 2025 (which would essentially mean they got a half-a-season and potential Super Bowl run with Young for moving a comp pick back a year).
As for what the Niners are getting, Young’s played really well thus far this year, but the reason he didn’t draw more interest on the market was because of health—and, in particular, concerns following the catastrophic knee injury he suffered two years ago. But this is still a guy who was Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020, and is as physically talented as any pass rusher in the league.
Playing next to his old college teammate Nick Bosa—as well as Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave—and for widely-respected defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, should help bring the best out in Young. And make the Niners front a nightmare to deal with.
