On Tuesday, the Washington Commanders traded defensive end Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers. Unfortunately, it was another disappointing ending for the Commanders and a player many considered a “generational prospect.”
Remember late in the 2019 season, when the then-Redskins were playing out the string under interim coach Bill Callahan, and many fans wanted the team to lose just to be in a position to select Young?
That feels so long ago. Ron Rivera took over as head coach in 2020, and Young was his first draft pick. Their first year together had a bit of a storybook ending, as the Commanders, despite a 7-9 record, won the NFC East and took the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the limit in the wild-card game.
That would prove to be the peak of the Rivera era. Now, Young and Montez Sweat are gone, and Rivera could be next.
Here are six takeaways from Young’s trade to the 49ers.