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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

49ers GM John Lynch was concerned Chase Young trade might not happen

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 11/1/23

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said Wednesday that there was one point leading up to Tuesday's NFL trade deadline when he thought the deal for defensive lineman Chase Young might not happen.

"It was fairly late in the game. This wasn’t something I went to bed Monday night knowing we’d do this deal," the GM said during a conference call, per Cam Inman of The Mercury News. "I had this feeling going to bed, I didn’t sleep very well, that nothing would come to fruition. The more people do these (trades), the more compensation is getting higher and higher."

Now that the 2020 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year is set to join a loaded Niners group (pending Wednesday's physical), Lynch is excited to see what he can bring to the team.

Chase Young is not considered to be just a pass-rush specialist. The 49ers need help with their run defense, too.

“We think Chase is a complete player," 49ers GM John Lynch.
— Matt Maiocco (Threads @maiocconbcs) (@MaioccoNBCS) November 1, 2023

"Hopefully Chase can give us a lift the rest of the way," the GM said. "We needed a little lift after this recent stretch."

After opening the season 5-0, San Francisco has lost three straight and quarterback Brock Purdy has suffered a concussion and struggled lately. The 49ers bye in Week 9 appears to arrive at a perfect time, as it will allow Purdy, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams to get healthy and give Young a chance to adjust to his new team.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan's crew allowed 20 or more points only once over the first six games but have allowed 53 points in the last two contests combined. They surrendered season highs in points (31) and first downs (29) during the Week 8 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Young should be able to provide that lift, as the 24-year-old is playing some of the best football of his career and seems to be as healthy as ever.

The Ohio State product missed just one game with an injury during his rookie campaign in 2020, a season that saw him finish with what are still career bests in quarterback hits (12), tackles for loss (10), sacks (7.5), forced fumbles (four), passes defended (four) and fumble recoveries (three). After posting four quarterback hits, three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks through nine games in 2021, Young suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list at the start of training camp last summer as the injury lingered and wasn't activated off of injured reserve until November. Young didn't return to the field until Week 16 in late December and played just three contests, recording three solo tackles and no sacks on 115 defensive snaps.

The former No. 2 overall pick missed the Washington Commanders 2023 season-opener with a neck injury but has been one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL since then. Young is on pace to shatter a host of previous career highs, having already racked up nine quarterback hits, six tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks through seven games.

He was on the field for a career high 75 snaps during the Commanders victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6 and played what would be a career best 84% of the team's defensive snaps this year.

Young's first chance to make a good impression on his new fans will be in Week 10 when San Francisco travels to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 12.

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