Aug 18, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young (99) stands on the field before the start of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
By Ross Jackson
It was a busy offseason for the New Orleans Saints. The team changed out nearly its entire coaching staff, brought in a nine-player draft class and have begun to shift into their newest era. But one of the Saints’ best offseason moves came down not to a new addition, but the retention of a potential star player.
The Saints signed defensive end and 2020 No. 2 overall selection Chase Young to an incentive-heavy one-year deal before the 2024 season. With looming questions about his health and criticisms about effort in his previous stops, Young appeared in all 17 games last year and showed no lack of effort, finishing No. 6 in the NFL in quarterback pressures with 73, per Next Gen Stats.
This season, the Saints extended Young on a three-year, $51 million deal that is worth up to $57 million. It was the team’s biggest investment of the offseason and, with the hiring of Brandon Staley as their new defensive coordinator, the Saints hope to get the bang for their buck they need.
Chase Young counters with a stab/club, clears the blocker’s outside hand & gets to Mahomes for the sack. Always be rushing! #PassRush #WhoDat #Saints pic.twitter.com/Jt5JFVOXHJ
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) October 8, 2024
New Orleans has not eclipsed 40 sacks in either of the last two years despite having 17 games to reach the mark, one they consistently met in the years prior.
Young will have to finish plays at the quarterback more than the 5.5 sacks he accumulated last season in order for the contract to fully get back its value. But with an average of just $17 million per year, Young is being paid as a top-20 defensive end. Meanwhile with just $9.056 million in guarantees per year, he falls outside of the top-20 among edge rushers. Proving that while the investment was a heavy one for New Orleans relative to their other dealings this offseason, it wasn’t an unwieldy contract or irresponsible valuation of the talent.
If the Saints can get Young, who should be considered their top pass rushing threat, to double-digit sacks in 2025, the contract immediately proves to pay off and could lead to the defender becoming the next fixture in New Orleans at one of the most important positions in football.
