Should the Chicago Bears hold off from trading for Chase Young?

The 2023 offseason for the Chicago Bears by most accounts would be a success. Not only did the Bears get their number one receiver for Justin Fields to throw to in D.J. Moore but they also revamped the offensive line in a big way. In hopes to give him more time to throw, the Bears signed guard Nate Davis and drafted right tackle, Darnell Wright.

The Chicago Bears would also add a bunch of guys to the defense which should hopefully see that squad improve. The one area that is still a concern is the edge rusher spot. The Bears are bringing in veterans DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green with the hope of them adding more production. With the two additions, many feel the Bears' edge position is still missing that true number-one talent to go after the quarterback.

The rumor mill has been swirling around Commanders' edge rusher Chase Young and the Bears this offseason. With the Commanders declining Young's fifth-year option and the big payday to fellow defensive lineman Daron Payne, many feel like the Commanders might want to move on from the former second-overall pick. At first glance, it feels like a no-brainer for the Chicago Bears to try and acquire Chase Young and add a young talented guy to that room. But there are some concerns with him.

Should the Chicago Bears think twice about trading for Chase Young?

The first major concern with Chase Young is his injury history. Over the last two seasons, Young has played in just 12 games -- three of those games coming in the 2022 season. After tearing both his ACL and his patellar tendon in his right knee in Week 10 of the 2021 season, he would be put on season-ending IR where he would need to have reconstructing surgery on his ACL. In 2022, he would start the season on the PUP list before eventually making his return in Week 16.

The second big concern with Chase Young is his sharp dropoff in production from his first season to his second. In his rookie season, Young would generate 7.5 sacks with four forced fumbles, 44 combined and 32 solo tackles, and four pass deflections. That season would be good enough to get him the Defensive Rookie of the Year award and a Pro Bowl appearance.

In his second season before tearing his knee in Week 10, his numbers would drop to 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, 26 combined and 15 solo tackles with two pass deflections. The numbers are expected to be lower with Young only playing in nine total games, but if you average the numbers he would have had over a full season the numbers are still a big drop from the season prior.

Young also did not appear in any injury reports until after Week 10. Pro Football Focus (PFF) would grade Chase Young's rookie year an 87.2 and in his second season they would rate him a 75.1 -- an overall drop of over 10%.

The last big concern with the Chicago Bears potentially trading for Chase Young would be the asking price the Commanders would want for him. The cheapest time for the Bears to go after him would most likely be now. But the hard thing to judge is what would be a fair price to pay.

Trade packages are likely to range from anywhere from multiple second-round picks at the highest to multiple fourth-round picks at the lowest and various packages down the middle. If the Bears can find a way to give two fourth-round picks for Young then they should take it, anything more might be too much of a risk for a season of production.