Sources: The Saints are bringing back a key piece of their defense, agreeing to terms with Chase Young on a 3-year, $51M deal with a chance to reach $57M, a source says.
And back at the table at 28.
— Ian Rapoport (@rapsheet1.bsky.social) March 10, 2025 at 6:21 PM
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the contract agreement is a three-year extension for $51 million ($17 million average per year) with presumed incentives or escalators that can take the total deal up to $57 million in total. The assumption would be that those additional $6 million in boosts could be earned in $2 million annual increments. However the contract details have not yet been released.
Young was set to account for more than $9 million in dead cap this season, as his contract was set to void as the new league year began. This move could actually save the Saints money depending on the details of the agreement for 2025.
The 2020 No. 2 overall selection spent the 2024 NFL season in New Orleans on an incentive-laden contract, on which he made good being available by appearing in all 17 games. During those contests, Young totaled 5.5 sacks, 31 total tackles, eight tackles for a loss and 21 hits on opposing quarterbacks.
Per Next Gen Stats, Young ranked No. 6 in the NFL with 73 total pressures. While sacks don’t tell the entire story for edge defenders, that is surely a number Young would love to bolster as he moves forward in New Orleans. It’s easy to pick him, at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, as a standup edge rusher for defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s scheme.
That role may allow him to be more productive in the sack department as a speed rusher than in former coach Dennis Allen’s scheme.
Young, 25, was clear last season about his progress, feeling that it was one of the best years of his career.
“I feel like I’ve pass-rushed the best I have my whole entire career,” he said last season. “My rookie year I had a great year, but I don’t even think I pass-rushed anywhere (near where) I am right now, even though the sack number is not there.”
Young has a chance now to build on that momentum with a defensive coordinator that may be able to put him in more advantageous situations as he looks to attack opposing quarterbacks.
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