The New Orleans Saints are bolstering their already elite defense with one of the most coveted free agents left on the market. They have agreed to terms with former San Francisco 49ers defensive end and former No. 2 overall pick out of Ohio State University Chase Young on a one-year, fully-guaranteed $13 million deal, according to CBS Sports HQ senior NFL insider Josina Anderson.
Young, 24 years old, was traded from the Washington Commanders during their fire sale of talented players, to the 49ers at last year’s trade deadline, with San Francisco sending Washington a compensatory third-round pick. Young appeared in nine games for the 49ers in 2023, registering 10 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks and six quarterback hits. He also recorded 11 combined tackles in the postseason, and one sack in the Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. His impact was more than just numbers, however. It was his leadership on and off the field that really made a difference.
Young came down to his final decision in the old school type of way, by taking actual in-person visits with every organization he met with.
Embed from Getty Images“I definitely plan to add a good piece,” Young said in a video conference with New Orleans reporters Monday night. “I’m going to let my play do the talking.”
As a top pick of the Commanders in 2020, Young made his presence known right off the bat, taking home NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and earning a trip to the Pro Bowl after recording 44 combined tackles, 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hits to go along with four forced fumbles. However, injuries have taken their toll, and a torn ACL prematurely ended his second season, and Young played in just three games the following year in 2022.
Young appeared to be finding his stride with the Commanders in 2023 prior to him being dealt, and recorded 15 combined tackles, five sacks and nine quarterback hits in seven games played.
“I feel like in every area of my game, I can grow. I’m still a young player,” Young said. “I’m going to do my best to make sure [the Saints] know they didn’t pick the wrong one.”
In the ‘Big Easy’, New Orleans, Young joins a talented and veteran pass-rushing room which includes Cameron Jordan, 34 years-of-age, Carl Granderson 27 years old, and Payton Turner, who did not have a sack last year. Young has recorded 16.5 sacks in 43 career games played, and will be anxious and motivated to prove he is a legitimate starter in the NFL.
“This place, I had a feeling. My mom always said trust my gut,” Young said. “I felt like this was the best choice for me.”
