Chase Young

The San Francisco 49ers gave up a 2024 third-round compensatory pick to acquire Chase Young from the Washington Commanders this season, and the return on investment was 2.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, six quarterback hits and a deflected pass in nine games.

Not exactly banner production, but he has enough talent to warrant a second look, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano:

The 49ers have at least some interest in bringing back edge rusher Chase Young, who was a bit of a disappointment for them after their deadline deal to acquire him from Washington but is still just 24 and has a great relationship with star 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa. (They were college teammates.) Young might end up having to take a one-year prove-it deal, be it from San Francisco or someone else, but there are enough teams still intrigued by the 2020 No. 2 overall pick's potential.

Young has yet to truly live up to the upside that made him the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, with just 16.5 sacks across 43 career games. Injuries played a part, limiting him to just 12 overall games between the 2021-22 campaigns, though he's yet to also consistently flash the game-changing potential that top-five edge-rushers are expected to possess.

Another season opposite Bosa, who soaks up plenty of attention and helps create favorable matchups for his teammates, could be just what the doctor ordered. Young isn't going to get the lucrative second contract he might have once envisioned, though a strong 2024 campaign could help him get there. A return to San Francisco on a short-term deal would make a lot of sense.

If the 49ers are going to beat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, San Francisco defensive end Chase Young knows the defense needs to be much better than it was in the NFC Championship Game.

"The only thing we're worried about is doing our job every play and preparing for this game the best we can," Young told reporters Tuesday. "We have got to do better. You're going to see it this game."

In San Francisco's 34-31 win over the Detroit Lions in the NFCCG, the 49ers fell behind by as many as 17 points before charging back in the second half for the win.

The defense allowed Lions quarterback Jared Goff to throw for 273 yards and one touchdown, and it also allowed a combination of David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams to rush for 180 yards and three scores.

Speaking with reporters last week, 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks called his unit's play against the Lions "unacceptable."

"Collectively as a team, I can tell you as a defense it's unacceptable," Wilks said Friday, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner.

"We talked about that. I wish I could tell these guys on play four, on play 27, this is what's going to happen. You don't know. So, we've got to make sure that we play every down as if it's going to be the difference in the ball game. And you could see on those particular plays, it wasn't to our standard. Those guys understand and know that and quite honestly it was embarrassing."

Things won't get much easier for the 49ers this weekend at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium.

Mahomes is one of the most difficult quarterbacks to face in the NFL, and he has one of the best tight ends in the game as his top pass catcher in Travis Kelce.

Additionally, Isiah Pacheco has emerged as one of the most productive running backs in the league, and given Detroit's struggles defending the run of late, he could be in for a big game with the championship on the line.

The Chiefs are aiming to become the first team since the New England Patriots in 2004 and 2005 to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles. The 49ers, meanwhile, are aiming to win their first championship since 1995.

The Washington Commanders were reportedly frustrated with defensive end Chase Young before dealing him to the San Francisco 49ers ahead of the trade deadline this season.

According to ESPN's John Keim, the Commanders had no plans to sign Young to a long-term contract extension, and they had "grown tired of trying to get him to play within their system."

Washington selected Young with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft out of Ohio State, and the move initially paid dividends, as he recorded 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles during his debut season en route to a Pro Bowl selection and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

However, injuries limited Young to a total of 12 games over the next two seasons, and he recorded just 1.5 sacks during that stretch.

The Commanders decided against exercising the fifth-year option in Young's rookie contract, meaning he entered the 2023 season as an impending free agent.

Young largely remained healthy this season, registering five sacks in seven games for the Commanders before they traded him to San Francisco for a 2024 third-round draft pick.

Since getting deal to the Niners, Young has seven tackles and 2.5 sacks in seven games, giving him a total of 7.5 sacks on the season, which matches his career high.

In addition to Young, the Commanders dealt Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears at the deadline, meaning they are essentially starting from scratch with their group of pass-rushers.

Since trading Young and Sweat, the Commanders are just 1-6, and they have fallen to 4-11 on the season.

Meanwhile, if Young closes out the 2023 regular season and playoffs on a high note, he could be in line to land a huge, new contract with the Niners or another team in free agency.