Chase Young Called ‘Undisciplined’ After Trade

The Washington Commanders traded Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday at the NFL trade deadline, and among the positives for all involved: Maybe a simple change of scenery is due. Why do we say that? Because of what we believe to be the veracity of a story coming from a reporter who is connected both inside the Commanders building and inside the 49ers building. Per the San Francisco Chronicle’s Michael Silver, the Commanders bosses were privately critical of the standout edge rusher because of his “bad habits” in chasing “splash plays.” Writes Silver

Chase Young and the Niners “Young, according to several Commanders coaches and other organizational sources, was viewed as an undisciplined player who developed bad habits such as deviating from assignments in an effort to make splash plays.” Is this the Commanders “back-stabbing” Young? We don’t see it that way; Washington, under coach Ron Rivera, exhibited a great deal of patience with Young as he learned his craft, as he battled through injuries (after tearing his ACL in 2021, Young played just three games last year) and has he’s playing well now – even as Washington declined to pick up his fifth-year option, a choice that set him up for free agency this spring.

This year, Young has five sacks and 18 pressures in seven games and in exchange for a third-round pick, he can be a key add for a San Francisco team that – despite the oddity of its three straight losses – views itself as a Super Bowl contender. And in theory, leaving the Commanders – who presently rank 31st in total defense – for a team in Super Bowl contention could cure any problems with “undisciplined” play.