49ers answer Seahawks’ big trade on defense with one of their own

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers got some needed help for their struggling defense, acquiring edge rusher Chase Young from the Washington Commanders for a conditional third-round draft pick.

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Two people with knowledge of the deal confirmed that Young was headed to San Francisco pending a physical following the trade agreed to before Tuesday’s deadline. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t announced it.

The reported trade comes a day after the Seattle Seahawks made a splash by trading for one-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Leonard Williams, sending two draft picks to the New York Giants in return. The 5-2 Seahawks moved ahead of the 49ers (5-3) for the lead in the NFC West with a win over Cleveland on Sunday, leading to somewhat of a mini arms race this week. The two division rivals have a pair of games coming up: a Thanksgiving matchup on Nov. 23 in Seattle, then a Dec. 10 game at San Francisco just over two weeks later.

Young will team up with his former Ohio State teammate Nick Bosa to give the Niners (5-3) a formidable edge rushing duo and provide a needed boost for a team on a three-game losing streak.

Young was the second overall pick in the 2020 draft — a year after Bosa went No. 2 to San Francisco — and has been playing at a high level this season after two injury-plagued years.

Young has five sacks in seven games this season — two more than anyone on the 49ers — and is tied for eighth in the league with 38 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

After a fast start to the season, San Francisco’s defense has struggled during the recent losing streak. The Niners had no sacks on 45 pass attempts in a loss to Minnesota in Week 7 and were picked apart last week by Joe Burrow and Cincinnati.

They hope the addition of Young to a defensive line that already includes Bosa; defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead; and recently acquired edge rusher Randy Gregory will help San Francisco return to its dominant form.

Young is the second defensive end traded away by Washington on Tuesday. The Commanders earlier shipped Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears for a 2024 second-round draft pick, a person with knowledge of the trade said on condition of anonymity because neither team had announced that deal.

Seattle Sports staff contributed to this post.

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