The New Orleans Saints have come to terms with free agent defensive end Chase Young on a 1 year, $13M contract the club announced. The deal is fully guaranteed, and will allow Young to re-enter the free agent market again in 2025.
“I feel like in every area of my game, I can grow. I’m still a young player,” Young told reporters. “I’m going to do my best to make sure they know they didn’t pick the wrong one.”
The 24 year old pass rusher tied a career high with 7.5 sacks in 2023, splitting time between the Commanders and 49ers. He also added 25 tackles and 41 pressures, oscillating between being a starter and a rotational piece throughout the year.
Because of a torn ACL suffered in 2021, Young has appeared in just 43 games since being drafted 2nd overall by Washington in 2020. The former Ohio State standout began his career with a Pro Bowl selection and Defensive Rookie of the Year honours, before ultimately falling out of favour in DC.
The Saints will be banking on a change of scenery reinvigorating their new asset, as they’ll look to pair Young with Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson on their defensive line. New Orleans, who finished 29th in the league in sacks with only 34 last season, have largely whiffed on their attempt to reinforce their pass rush via the draft in recent years.
The club took Payton Turner in the 1st round of the 2021 draft, followed by Isaiah Foskey in the 2nd round of last year’s draft. However Foskey would up being a healthy scratch for most of last year, with Turner being limited to just 2 games because of injury. All in all, New Orleans has only gotten 15 games and 3 sacks out of Turner throughout his 3 year NFL career.
With ample opportunity to step in and be a day 1 starter, Young will hope to capitalize on the 2024 campaign and hopefully secure a long term contract for 2025 and beyond.
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