John Lynch shares timeline for blockbuster move – NBC Sports Bay Area and California

Upon being hired as the 49ers’ general manager in 2017, John Lynch made a phone call to an old friend to see if he would join him in the team’s front office.

Martin Mayhew, with whom Lynch played in the defensive backfield for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the mid-1990s, accepted the offer to join the 49ers’ personnel department. Mayhew previously served as general manager of the Detroit Lions.

Mayhew, now the general manager of the Washington Chiefs, and Lynch remained close. Their familiarity with each other was a driving force in the 49ers being able to acquire defensive end Chase Young on Tuesday in a trade with the Chiefs at the NFL trade deadline.

“I think relationships are important in these things,” Lynch said Wednesday morning on a conference call with Bay Area reporters.

Lynch said he reached out about two weeks ago to see if there was any possibility Young could be available in the deal. Earlier this year, the Chiefs declined to pick up a fifth-year contract option on Young, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Young is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency in March after completing his fourth NFL season.

At 3-5, the Commanders appeared to be in a position to sell some assets to acquire 2024 draft picks and begin rebuilding under new ownership.

“I was gauging the possibility of it [Young] “He will be available,” Lynch said. “And Martin thought there was a good chance we could make the match. We’ve been tracking Chase for some time.

“He kept us informed because we were looking at a variety of things. He kept coming back and saying this is where he’s at.

Lynch said he’s not entirely sure a deal can be done before Tuesday’s 1 p.m. PT deadline. He didn’t sleep well due to the possibility that the 49ers wouldn’t be able to influence a trade.

“This wasn’t something where I went to bed Monday night knowing we were going to get this deal done,” Lynch said.

At approximately 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Chiefs traded defensive end Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick in the draft. The 49ers have been alerted to the availability of the race.

“Early on in my conversations with Martin, Chase was the one talking to me,” Lynch said. “At some point, the sweat can also be had for the right price,” Martin said. That’s where it was.

Finally, about 90 minutes before the deadline, the 49ers and the leaders concluded talks and agreed to a trade of Young.

The 49ers sent Washington a “special compensatory pick,” which is expected to be in the neighborhood of No. 100 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Young was scheduled to arrive in the Bay Area on Wednesday morning to undergo a physical examination. Then the deal will become official.

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