49ers Trade Two Draft Choices for Steve Young

The San Francisco 49ers Friday traded second- and fourth-round choices in next week’s National Football League draft to Tampa Bay for quarterback Steve Young.

The 49ers gave up one of their two second-round picks--No. 50 overall--for the former BYU star who signed professional football’s largest contract ever--estimated at more than $40 million--with the USFL’s Los Angeles Express in 1984.

The Buccaneers also reported receiving an undisclosed amount of money. Young became expendable when the Buccaneers signed University of Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde to a four-year contract April 3.

In two seasons with Tampa Bay, Young completed 267 of 501 passes for 3,217 yards. He started the last five games for Tampa Bay in 1985 and 14 of 16 games last season.

Coach Bill Walsh of the 49ers, who lost starting quarterback Joe Montana for seven games last season because of a ruptured disk in his back, said: “This move is not a reflection on Joe Montana. We fully expect Joe to continue as the leader and mainstay of our team.”