Two stars left town, and may as well have taken the Washington Commanders' coaches and midseason dreams with them.
The Commanders traded their twin defensive ends on Tuesday, an expected but still shocking move, for draft picks. Not for first-round picks that Montez Sweat and Chase Young once were, but settling for something that was perhaps better than nothing if they left next season as unrestricted free agents.
Sweat proved the bigger prize, gaining a second-rounder from the Chicago Bears that should be just outside the first round in the mid-30s overall. That was a solid deal. Young went for a very late third-rounder from the San Francisco 49ers that might even be a fourth. It was the best they could get for an underperforming and injured Young, but still a big drop off from being the second overall selection in 2020.
The moves signal tear-down mode at 3-5. You’re not seeking the playoffs by trading two players who are decent, but not great as hoped. Once, they were envisioned as the best bookend ends since Dexter Manley and Charles Mann a generation ago. Instead, they’re replaced by reserves Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams, who are probably just as good.
Washington didn’t want to re-sign the pair. Not when the line rarely played like four first-rounders. Maybe it was failed chemistry or poor coaching, but it didn’t work. No sense throwing more money after it. Indeed, Young’s distant attitude to the game, and never coming to voluntary offseason workouts, showed he liked being a football player more than playing football. Good luck to whoever signs him to a big-money deal. Two words: Albert Haynesworth. Two more: Dana Stubblefield. Washington signed both free agents after career years and more than regretted it.
Oh, you’ll see Young flourish at times for the 49ers. Just wait until San Francisco plays at FedEx Field on Dec. 31. Young will be possessed over beating Commanders tackle Charles Leno. But the smart money is letting Young cash in elsewhere.
Creating a Berlin Wall of first-rounders saw the short-sightedness of it each week. With no strong pass rush, Washington also lost its pass defense in a mediocre secondary. First-round cornerback Emmanuel Forbes is the latest to see the bench.
Today’s NFL requires offense more than defense. Washington’s next coach should be a young offensive coordinator. Maybe the choice is already here in Eric Bieniemy. He has a half-season to prove it. Otherwise, Washington flushes all reminders of owner Dan Snyder’s tenure and starts over yet again.
And that’s when an extra second and third come in handy. Letting Sweat and Young leave as free agents would have at best merited two third-round compensation picks...in 2025. Washington gained more right away.
It was sad to see two players with once bright futures leave, but Washington has many, many hard decisions to make in coming months to revive the franchise. The bottom line is Washington didn’t win with Young and Sweat. Same goes for coach Ron Rivera and staff, come January at most.
Change is not only coming – it’s already here.