John Lynch: Chase Young is going to be a ‘complete player’ for the 49ers

Nov 1, 2023, 9:40 AM | Updated: 10:10 am

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 29: Chase Young #99 of the Washington Commanders reacts in the first quarter of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on October 29, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

John Lynch tossed and turned the night before the NFL trade deadline, uncertain if his team would make a move on Halloween. But in the end, the 49ers made a move, acquiring Chase Young at the deadline.

The San Francisco 49ers general manager revealed how the trade went down on Wednesday. Lynch and the front office had been tracking Young for a few weeks now, impressed by the tape each week of the 2023 season. But after a restless night of sleep, the GM knew he had to make a move, reaching out to his old colleague and current Commanders executive, Martin Mayhew, to get a deal done.

In the end, the 49ers made a move that they felt they needed to make, one that would give a spark to the team’s struggling defensive line.

“But ultimately, we felt like this would give us a boost,” John Lynch said about Chase Young, via conference call. “We really liked Chase’s film, we like where he was from a health standpoint. Obviously, as with any player, all these deals are agreed in principle or are contingent upon passing physicals so he’s got to clear that hurdle today.”

The @49ers have traded a third-round pick for Chase Young (per @RapSheet).

Young has generated a career-high 17.2% pressure rate this season. The 49ers now have two of the top five defenders in QB pressures this season:

🔸 Nick Bosa: 41 (4th)
🔸 Young: 40 (5th)#FTTB pic.twitter.com/otjM8334W1

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 31, 2023

Chase Young, 24, will fly into the Bay Area Wednesday, set to take part in his physical before becoming an official member of the 49ers. But if his tape could stand alone, that would tell you he is back to his All-world form.

What has Chase Young done this season?

Young has recorded five sacks on the season for Washington, including 15 total tackles, nine quarterback hits and 40 pressures in 2023. After suffering through two injury-barred seasons, his speed and quickness appear to be present once more, reminiscent of his colligate tape.

And the 49ers agree.

“I think the proof is in what’s translating on the field and he’s been playing a lot, looking really good….It sure looks like he’s been healthy based upon what he’s been doing on the field,” Lynch stated.

His productivity has also come with an increase in playing time, logging 70% or more of the snaps each week for the Commanders. In fact, from Weeks 4 to 7, Young was on the field for 89% or more of the team’s defensive snaps.

Now heading to the Red & Gold, the speed pass rusher won’t be asked to do as much thanks to the talented across the line of scrimmage. But he will be used more than that, as the 49ers rank near the boom in run defense this season. Chase Young will be asked to help out in that area as well, capable in both the pass and run game for his new squad.

“We think Chase is a complete player…You got to earn the right to rush the passer and, and you do that by playing the run well, and we’ve not been good enough there. When we start doing the little things, that gives you the opportunities and ultimately, I think we’re gonna get this thing right and all those things, but that definitely is true. We got to shore that up, it starts with stopping the run. And you know, we haven’t been doing that well enough.

But that’s the main reason they added Young to their uber-talented unit, looking to make a former strength their biggest weapon moving forward.

“We put a lot of resources there. Those guys need to be not just good,” Lynch stated. “They need to be really good, dominant and wreak havoc. I feel like it’s on its way. That takes everybody.”

John Lynch also stressed that while the 49ers did add a star player this time around, they felt they had to do so by the Halloween window. Instead, they wanted to make a move that would only help them at the right price, using a compensatory third-round pick to get their guy.

But at the end of the day, Lynch and Co. feel that the 49ers have all of the answers to their defensive struggles already in the building, only adding Young as the cherry on top.

Man, @49ers fans are going to love what Chase Young is putting on tape this season!

The Niners defense needs a guy who can win 1 on 1, and this season Chase Young is proving he’s that game!#AchoAnalysis pic.twitter.com/Dl7Zf31n9K

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 31, 2023

“Something we talked a lot about coming off that tough stretch that we’re on, everyone needs to look inward, not outward,” Lynch reiterated. “Because there’s no magic pill, the answers are right here in this building. We didn’t feel like we necessarily needed to go do something [at the deadline] and we weren’t gonna be reactionary to our recent streak. But all along, we just felt like it’s the right thing that transpired. And ultimately, we thought that this was something that that would really help us.”