Landing Chase Young at trade deadline is a massive win for 49ers

The 49ers boast one of the best defensive lines in football but still needed pass-rushing help. They got one of the best at the deadline in Chase Young.

If there's one thing clear about the San Francisco 49ers under general manager John Lynch, it's that they'll never hesitate to use assets on the defensive line.

The Niners already boast one of the best D-lines in the NFL, headlined by the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa.

But, including Bosa, the D-line has underwhelmed for much of the 2023 season, and the pass rush is a clear weakness that has left San Francisco's otherwise talented defense in tatters over what's been a three-game losing streak.

The 49ers already bolstered the depth prior to this year's NFL trade deadline by landing defensive end Randy Gregory from the Denver Broncos.

However, Tuesday's 11th-hour blockbuster for edge Chase Young just put the Niners over the top.

The compensation already reveals it's a steal for the former No. 2 overall pick from the 2020 NFL Draft.

And that's one reason why San Francisco comes away with a massive win.

Why 49ers just won the Chase Young trade in a big way

With their defense on the ropes, the 49ers needed to act somehow at the NFL trade deadline, and getting Young (who becomes the defacto Niners sack leader with five on the season) helps that in a massive way.

Oh, and San Francisco is giving up just one compensatory third-round pick. That's it.

The 49ers win right there because, should Chase depart via free agency once his contract expires in 2024, they'll most likely get a comp pick back. Based on how Young is playing this season, whatever deal he signs elsewhere will almost guarantee it a third-round pick.

Then, the 49ers win because of the overall cost, as broken down by 49erscap.com's Jason Hurley:

Related story: Latest 49ers rumors, news and reports ahead of 2023 trade deadline

Washington is absorbing the rest of his contract, and the remaining $561,111 is the prorated remainder of his salary for this season.

That's a steal for a Niners team that is already well above the 2024 salary cap and wants to carry over as much space from 2023 into next year.

Meanwhile, Young gets to pair up with his old Ohio State teammate, Bosa, in what should be one of the most formidable one-two pass-rushing duos in the league today.

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