Considerations for the Chicago Bears Before Trading for Chase Young

Moreover, the defense squad has seen an influx of new faces, which has sparked hope for a marked improvement. However, there's still apprehension over the edge rusher position. While veteran talents DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green have been brought in, a prominent, undisputed lead talent to chase down quarterbacks remains missing. This has stoked the rumor fires about a possible pursuit of Commanders' edge rusher, Chase Young.

The Commanders' decision not to extend Young's fifth-year option and their hefty payout to defensive lineman Daron Payne seems to indicate they might let Young go. At first glance, it seems obvious that the Chicago Bears should jump at the opportunity to add such a gifted young player to their lineup. However, there are a few reservations that may warrant a second thought.

It is worth the Chicago Bears taking a step back and thinking over the Chase Young trade?

A significant red flag with Chase Young is his history of injuries. He has only been able to play 12 games over the last two seasons, three of which were in the 2022 season. A devastating right knee injury in Week 10 of the 2021 season, involving both an ACL and patellar tendon tear, required reconstructive surgery and ended his season prematurely. After starting 2022 on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, he returned in Week 16.

Another major concern is Young's noticeable dip in performance between his first and second seasons. His rookie season saw him notch up 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, 44 combined tackles (32 solo), and four pass deflections, earning him the Defensive Rookie of the Year award and a Pro Bowl appearance. In his injury-shortened second season, he recorded just 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, 26 combined tackles (15 solo), and two pass deflections. While a dip is expected due to reduced game time, even a full season average points to a significant decline from his rookie year.

What's more, Pro Football Focus (PFF) ratings reflect this drop-off, grading Young at 87.2 in his rookie year and 75.1 in his second - a drop of over 10%.

Lastly, the potential cost to acquire Young from the Commanders is a key concern for the Bears. While now might be the most cost-effective time to pursue Young, determining a fair price is challenging. Trade package predictions range from multiple second-round picks at the highest, to multiple fourth-round picks at the lowest. If the Bears can negotiate a trade involving two fourth-round picks for Young, it's a deal worth considering. However, anything more might be too high a risk for just one season of confirmed performance.