NFL - NEWS & NOTES

TRADE

On the heels of a three-game losing streak, the San Francisco 49ers aren't regrouping -- they're reloading.

The 49ers are acquiring 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young from the Washington Commanders in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday, per sources.

This is the second year in a row 49ers general manager John Lynch has pulled off a massive trade ahead of the deadline. Last season, San Francisco acquired running back Christian McCaffrey, who's been a boon for the Niners. They're hoping the same fortune will be had with the acquisition of Young.

For the Commanders, it's the second big deal and massive loss from their defensive front – long viewed as the strength of the team – on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, Washington sent Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears for a second-round draft pick. It's arguable that Young is the bigger get for a cheaper price, but Lynch made it happen.

Much as McCaffrey's acquisition had Niners fans salivating at the prospects of the 49ers' star-laden offense operating with CMC added into the mix, the San Francisco faithful can do the same thinking about how well Young will bolster the Niners' defensive front. Young, the 2020 NFL Draft No. 2 overall pick, portends to line up opposite 2019 No. 2 pick Nick Bosa in what would have been a fantasy lineup only a few years ago. The stacked front also includes Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead, complementing a defense that has struggled as of late, but is still the No. 5 total defense in the NFL.

Bosa has just three sacks, but he's still impacting games as his 41 QB pressures (fourth in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats) attest to.
Nonetheless, the 49ers allowed a season-high 31 points to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8.

Having burst out to a 5-0 start to the season, the Super Bowl hopefuls in San Francisco have fallen on hard times with their three straight losses. This is an indication that nothing in the 49ers' expectations has changed. They want a championship and they're hoping Young can help them get that this season.

Young lived up to his hype coming out of Ohio State when he claimed the aforementioned DROY accolade on the strength of 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. However, injuries plagued him from 2021-2022. That resulted in the Commanders declining Young's fifth-year option. He's responded with sensational form this year, collecting five sacks, 40 QB pressures, six tackles for loss and nine QB hits in seven games.

He's on the last year of his rookie contract, but for now that makes no matter for the Niners.

The Commanders, in their first year under new ownership, are clearly going through a massive overhaul. Meanwhile, the 49ers have made it clear they're aspirations remain of of the highest variety, never mind their recent skid.

NFL.com

 

TRADE

The Jacksonville Jaguars are beefing up their offensive line for the stretch run.

The Jags are acquiring guard Ezra Cleveland from the Minnesota Vikings, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday. The teams later officially announced the deal and that Minnesota would receive a 2024 sixth-round draft pick as compensation.

Cleveland, a pending free agent, was expendable in Minnesota after the Vikings signed Dalton Risner in the middle of the season. The guard, who has played on both the left and right side, during his three-plus seasons in Minnesota, is a stellar run blocker and improved his pass blocking this season before being sidelined with a foot injury.

NFL.com

 

Interesting twist is that if Lynch plays his free agency cards right, he might get the pick back a year later if Bosa leaves. With the year he's having, Bosa would figure to net a 3rd round comp pick in 2025. So the potential is there for the trade price to be pushing back the 3rd a year and down from wherever SF ends up in the draft order to the comp picks at the bottom of the round. That's not a terrible price by any means. Or if they can work out the cap to resign him, they get a top shelf pass rusher for a 3rd round pick. That would be a huge win for Lynch.

 

You mean Chase Young? Bosa just signed a big contract

 

Sorry... yes, Young. Trying to surf and type while still halfway paying attention to a work call.

 

Surfs Up! Cowabunga dude!

 

In a nutshell...

 

I think Seattle and Philadelphia got the best trades to improve their team. And don’t be surprised if the Vikings make the playoffs with Dobbs at the helm.

 

Raiders fire McDaniels and Ziegler

 

Ha.

 

Bellichick calling in 3...2...1

 

He just signed a contract kind of secretly this past off-season... maybe, maybe not.

 

Has any coach ever been canned in the middle of his second season twice before? That’s embarrassing. You gotta go just manage a Cinnabon or some shit after that. Has his old man retired from his HS job yet? He could maybe get a gig there.

Even if he comes back to NE I don’t think he could undo the damage done to Mac the last two years. He’d be better off to hook back up with Caserio and hitch his wagon to CJ Stroud

 

Who? McDaniels?

 

No Hoodie signed an extension. McDaniels is cleaning the pens at the petting zoo .

 

said it when Denver hired him , huge mistake. Raiders: Class this missed .

 

Falcons list Drake London as out of practice, Desmond Ridder as full participant

Taylor Heinicke may be missing a key target in his first start as the Falcons quarterback.

Wide receiver Drake London did not take part in Wednesday’s practice. London injured his groin during the third quarter of last Sunday’s loss to the Titans and he did not return.

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith announced at his Wednesday press conference that Heinicke will start against the Vikings this weekend. Desmond Ridder is on the injury report as a full participant after being evaluated and cleared for a concussion against Tennessee.

Ridder did not return and the Falcons noted that “a player must receive this designation if evaluated for a concussion and is cleared but does not re-enter the game.” That attention to detail may be related to the league looking into their failure to list running back Bijan Robinson with an illness in Week Seven, but Ridder is expected to come off the injury report entirely on Thursday.

Safety DeMarcco Hellams missed practice with a hamstring injury. Defensive linemen David Onyemata and Calais Campbell took a rest day.

NBC

 

Cam the Man is back...

Steelers activate Cam Heyward

Defensive lineman Cam Heyward is set to return to the lineup for the Steelers.

Heyward has been on injured reserve since suffering a groin injury in the season opener, but he returned to practice last week and did not have an injury designation on the team’s final injury report before Thursday’s game against the Titans. After that report came out, the Steelers confirmed Heyward would be back in action by activating him from injured reserve.

“He is a difference maker. He really is,” linebacker T.J. Watt said of Heyward’s return, via the team’s website. “He has been doing it for a long time. A guy that has played in this matchup more than a few times. Anytime you can plug in a player like him, it’s going to make a difference no matter what.”

Running back Anthony McFarland is also eligible to come off of injured reserve and joined Heyward in avoiding an injury designation, but he has not been activated at this point.

PFT

 

Who was this again? I should know but I can't remember.