Chase Young having resurgence with Saints

By Ross Jackson

When 2020 No. 2 overall selection Chase Young signed with the New Orleans Saints last offseason, there was uncertainty about how the defensive end would fit in New Orleans. 

Nearly two seasons later, the answer is clear that he has fit in and re-established himself as a true threat off of the edge. 

Since his 2025 debut in Week 6, Young has compiled seven sacks with at least a half-sack in all but three games. He is just shy of his career high of 7.5 sacks in a season and has consistently been one of the most disruptive players in football. 

Last year, he finished with a career-best 73 pressures, good for No. 6 in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. 

Next Gen Stats has also credited Young with the third-fastest get-off time (0.77 seconds), which measures the time it takes for a lineman or pass rusher to accelerate off of the line of scrimmage after the snap, and the No. 5 average time to pressure at just 2.64 seconds. 

New Orleans pass rushers are typically known for getting to quarterbacks after second or third efforts while coverage holds up on the back end. Those days of creating pressure are now behind the franchise thanks to Young. 

Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley has implemented a system that allows his pass rushers to use their speed and athleticism, both of which Young packs in droves, to get to the quarterback quickly. The 26-year-old edge rusher is thriving in that setup. 

After agreeing to return on a three-year contract ahead of the 2025 season, Young’s resurgence is hard to miss. 

It all happened just in time for New Orleans. Defensive end Cameron Jordan is approaching his first ever offseason without a contract and the Saints have the assets to keep building their roster around Young as the newly-appointed leader in the edge rusher room. 

The Saints would be wise to bring Jordan back if there’s an advantageous contract situation for both sides. But building the future around Young and adding additional complementary talent on the edge should be one of the Saints’ biggest offseason considerations. 

Young is back, if he even ever left in the first place, and the Saints are fortunate that his presence and impact are being felt on their side of the line.