Which Washington Commanders news stories are hitting the headlines following a dramatic few hours of trade activity before the deadline?
Talk about drama.
Fans were expecting fireworks in some capacity before the trade deadline. But nobody envisaged what came next as the Washington Commanders formally kicked off what could be a pretty substantial rebuild in the hope of returning to contention sooner rather than later.
This brought its fair share of storylines attached. The headlines causing debate include Josh Harris' power play, rounding up a dramatic day, murmurings of unhappiness surrounding Chase Young's attitude, and the Commanders' current draft selections following a frenzied day of activity.
Let's delve into each topic in more detail.
Commanders trade Montez Sweat and Chase Young
People around the media - ourselves included - have been debating for months about which defensive end the Washington Commanders would keep. Would it be the dependable Montez Sweat? Or would those in power bet on the upside of Chase Young if he bounced back from serious injury complications?
These conversations turned out to be obsolete. The Commanders moved both just a few short hours before the trade deadline, with Sweat going to the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick that could be pretty high given how poor the NFC North outfit is performing of late.
That bombshell was swiftly followed by another. Young was shipped off to the San Francisco 49ers for nothing more than a conditional third-rounder in 2024, which was on the cheap side but at least gives Washington another selection in the top 100 to strengthen their roster next spring.
The times are changing. And this is just the start.
Commanders owner Josh Harris' power play
Some sections of the Washington Commanders fanbase were stunned by the team's decision to trade Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Most thought one should be moved given how hard it would be to satisfy both financially, but for those in power to pull the trigger on two trades raised eyebrows in no uncertain terms.
Make no mistake, this had Josh Harris' fingerprints all over it. The majority partner had a busy day that began by trading James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers, which concluded with the departures of Young and Sweat from Washington's all-first-round defensive front.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Harris' ownership group pulled rank on head coach Ron Rivera and other football men by making these moves. They wanted the pass-rushing tandem to stay - especially Sweat - but unfortunately for the under-fire head coach, he's no longer in control.
"I was told Washington ownership had a strong hand in deciding to deal both Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Many in the building wanted to keep them because they believe in this team but in the end, its about the future for the Commanders. The Washington Commanders are building. They now have 5 picks in the first 3 rounds. 3 in the top 50. Plus they have [Daron] Payne and [Jonathan] Allen locked in at DT. The building seems thrilled right now."Dianna Russini via X/Twitter
Rivera's had the final say on personnel since taking over as Dan Snyder looked for some semblance of stability amid the constant chaos. After three losing seasons that could be a fourth coupled with the introduction of new ownership, the balance of power has rightfully shifted.
And that doesn't bode well for his future with the franchise.
Commanders 2024 draft picks after trades
The Washington Commanders set the rebuilding wheels in motion under Josh Harris' ownership group by trading Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Things might get worse before they get better, but the franchise is at least forming a concise plan for long-term prosperity after years of band-aid fixes and rash moves failing to reap the necessary rewards.
This will sting in the short term unless players like Casey Toohill, James Smith-Williams, and others step up and fill the void. But boosting draft assets while significantly saving on the salary cap by not having to extend Sweat or Young provides the sort of flexibility that will be enticing for any future general manager or head coach if Harris goes in a different direction.
According to Tankathon, here's where the Commanders stand with their 2024 NFL Draft selections currently. They have three in the top 45, five in the top 100, and nine overall.
- Round No. 1 (Pick No. 11)
- Round No. 2 (Pick No. 37) - From Chicago
- Round No. 2 (Pick No. 42)
- Round No. 3 (Pick No. 73)
- Round No. 3 (Pick No. 100) - From 49ers
- Round No. 4 (Pick No. 108)
- Round No. 5 (Pick No. 143)
- Round No. 6 (Pick No. 188)
- Round No. 7 (Pick No. 229)
Not bad by any stretch of the imagination. Attention now firmly turns to who'll be making these decisions when the time comes with pressure mounting to exponential levels where Ron Rivera's future is concerned.
Commanders discontent with Chase Young?
It didn't take long for the rumors to start circulating about why the Washington Commanders sent Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers for pennies on the dollar. The former No. 2 overall selection looked back to something like his old self after frustrating injury concerns, but there might be more to this than meets the eye given reports in the trade's immediate aftermath.
Ben Standig of The Athletic reported that some within the building view Young's departure as an addition by subtraction. This is due to concerns about the player's long-term health and on-field discipline that wasn't sitting well with some.
"Viewing the trades together, Washington shrunk its chances of a turnaround in 2023. However, the team sees trading Young as a potential addition by subtraction, the source said. Even amid Young’s strong season, there are lingering concerns about his durability and on-field discipline, which is partly why Sweat was the more sought-after pass rusher in trade discussions this week, league sources said."Ben Standig, The Athletic
This was a sentiment echoed by Michael Silver from the San Francisco Chronicle, who claimed Young was developing a bad reputation for going off-script in the pursuit of making highlight plays rather than focusing on team assignments.
"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."Michael Silver via X/Twitter
Whether this had something to do with Young's father doing the radio rounds just a few short hours before he was traded is debatable. If nothing else, it should give the Ohio State product additional motivation to make a real go of things in San Francisco.