The Sweat trade, which broke first, makes sense for the Commanders. Getting a second-round pick in return is solid value, and given that it’s from the Bears, that will be a high second-rounder.
Sweat, while a solid player, was likely the weakest link of Washington’s defensive line unit of Young, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. He’s the only one of those four players — all former first-round picks — who has never made a Pro Bowl, so while it would have been ideal for Washington to find a way to keep him, this trade can be graded a solid “B.”
News broke later Tuesday of the Commanders sending Young to the 49ers for only a third-round pick. Considering this is the Super Bowl-hopeful 49ers, it will be a late third-round pick. To put it bluntly, this deal makes no sense.
Young, who was drafted as a franchise-changing talent, looked every bit the part during his 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign. Injuries limited him to only 12 combined games in 2021 and 2022, but in 2023, he has returned to form with five sacks in eight games. His potential is still high as ever.
Young is not the type of player you give away, especially for only a third-round pick. After all, Washington used the second overall pick to draft him in 2020. Even if the Commanders still aren’t sold enough on him to extend him long term, they could have used the franchise tag on him at the end of the season to give him one more “prove-it” year.
Instead, he’ll have the chance to prove himself on a different team, one in which he should fit right away. San Francisco’s defense is stacked, and Young could very well end up helping the 49ers win Super Bowls, leaving Commanders fans to wonder what could have been — making this move an emphatic “F.”
