The 2023 NFL trade deadline has come and gone.
The 49ers surprisingly added another pass rush threat, the Minnesota Vikings acquired their replacement for Kirk Cousins and the Chicago Bears.
Here’s a list of winners and losers from Tuesday’s exciting final day:
Winner: Chase Young
The 49ers acquired the youngster with a 2024 third-round draft pick from the Washington Chiefs, pairing him with former college teammate Nick Bosa on the defensive line.
Young, who is set to become a free agent this offseason, was on pace to have a career year with five sacks in seven games. Playing in the trenches with Bosa, Javon Hargrave and Eric Armstead should free him up for more sack opportunities.
The 49ers are hoping that tripling their D-line strength will mask their shaky secondary.
Loser: Chicago Bears
2-6 What are the bears doing?
Rather than move star cornerback Jaylon Johnson after making a trade request, Bears general manager Ryan Pauls sent a second-round draft pick to Washington for Montez Lab, who will be an unrestricted free agent this season. That pick currently sits at No. 35 overall.
If the Bears don’t re-sign Labs this offseason, this will be one of the worst trade-deadline moves in league history. Even if they agreed to the extension, could they not have wasted the election by waiting a few months?
Winner and loser: Nick Bosa
The 49ers didn’t consider a critical piece of draft capital — a third-round pick — to add to their defensive line this summer after acquiring the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL and signing Javon Hargrave in free agency.
Bosa has three sacks in his first eight games, a far cry from the 9.5 he had in eight games last season to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Advanced stats show that Bosa is still one of the league’s best pass rushers, but he’s not getting paid $34 million a year. Almost Sack the quarterback.
On the bright side, Bosa reunited with his old college friend Young at Ohio State. The 49ers defensive line should be a force to be reckoned with the rest of the year.
Loser: Ron Rivera
If Tuesday is any indication, “Riverboat Ron” will have plenty of free time after the season.
The Chiefs traded Young to the 49ers and Lab to the Bears, signaling a new era for new owner Josh Harris’ organization.
They’ve got new ownership, a promising quarterback in Sam Howell and plenty of draft picks. All that remains is to rebuild, hire a new coach, and reclaim the Washington football team’s nickname.
Winner: Josh Dobbs
Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon announced Sunday that Dobbs will not start in Week 9 at center, with the plan being to head to the bench in favor of starters Clayton Twine or Kyler Murray returning from injured reserve.
Instead, Dobbs is heading north to Minnesota after the Vikings traded sixth- and seventh-round picks to replace the injured Kirk Cousins.
Dobbs is now surrounded by some of the best weapons in the game in Justin Jefferson (when he returns), rising star Jordan Addison and TJ Hokenson. And more Creed, by Cousins Ax Rope.
Loser: Davante Adams
Adams was more accurate in throwing his helmet sideways than when quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw the pigskin in the Las Vegas Raiders’ 26-14 loss to the Detroit Lions on “Monday Night Football.”
Adams, still one of the best receivers in football, missed Garoppolo several times and finished the game with 11 yards. There was speculation after the game about whether he would request a trade, but that was quickly shut down early Tuesday by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“My response to the Davante Adams trade at the deadline today was to quote, ‘Not a chance in hell,'” Schefter said. “So there’s your answer.”
And yes, Garoppolo is it. Contract for two more years.
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