Chase Young‘s free agent period is likely to come to an end. The former No. 2 pick is set to visit the Saints today with the intention of signing, as first reported by Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. 
Young will receive $13MM fully guaranteed on a one-year deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds. That represents quite the ‘prove-it’ commitment on the part of New Orleans, a team which has shown interest in the former Defensive Rookie of the Year. Young’s visit with New Orleans was rescheduled to today, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. With that process having gone according to plan, the sides have a deal in place. The team has now announced the signing.
A trio of teams quickly emerged as Young suitors – New Orleans, Carolina and Tennessee. It thus comes as little surprise that the Saints appear to have won out the competition for his services as he profiled as one of the more intriguing free agents on the market. Young will be 25 at the start of the 2024 season, meaning he could have more upside and runway for high-end play than many other veterans who landed big-money deals last week.
The Ohio State product entered the league with massive expectations, but for the most part he did not deliver during his time in Washington. Injuries in 2021 and ’22, along with perception of freelancing during his time with the Commanders, hindered Young’s trade value leading up to this year’s deadline. Washington appeared committed to retaining one of he and fellow first-rounder Montez Sweat at that point. As such, Young’s contract year could have ended with him remaining in the nation’s capital.
However, he (like Sweat) was traded, finding himself in a deal which allowed him to reunite with former college teammate Nick Bosa in San Francisco. Young recorded five sacks in seven regular season games with the 49ers, adding one in the team’s postseason run. A deal keeping him on the Bay Area was in the cards, but Young made it clear upon arrival he would test the market. That suggested a departure could be coming, and he will now join a Saints team making another investment along the edge.
New Orleans has Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson in the fold, with both veterans having signed extensions last offseason. The team has also spent significant draft capital at the defensive end spot in recent years, including a first-round pick in 2021 (Payton Turner) and a second-rounder last April (Isaiah Foskey). Young will join that edge group for at least one season ahead of another potential trip to free agency.
The Saints – following yet another offseason filled with restructures and cuts needed to achieve cap compliance – entered Monday with $18.6MM in cap space. Young’s deal being fully guaranteed will eat into that figure considerably, although void years will no doubt be in place. It will be interesting to see how he fares in New Orleans and how his performance affects his value ahead of next offseason.
He did very little in his time w sf
I wish the NYG got him. They could have drafted him originally if they did a better job at tanking.
Looks like it may not have worked for NYG based on his production from 2020-2022 and the 2nd half of 2023.
Trust me, he was an over hyped player… not worth the money he got
You’re probably the only person who would prefer him over Andrew Thomas.
He had the key hurry that was a catalyst in SF beating my Lions in the NFC championship game.
He didn’t do much hurry in that game at all. Multiple clips of him dogging it in that game.
Yep, watched the game, well aware;especially the Gibbs TD run he looked like he couldn’t be arsed. Still the fact remains that the key moment in the game when the Lions had to have a first down, he came through in the clutch.
Watched it too, it wouldn’t have been that close if he was interested in setting the edge. Something he’s perfectly capable of. The lions ran all over that side
@htrab- He’s a solid player capable of making great plays, but that would have been a game NYG would not have been in even if they had drafted him.
My point ultimately is that he wouldn’t have improved the Giants much during the time referenced due to injuries and inconsistency and he certainly wouldn’t have put them over the top.
Now the Niners better extend Aiyuk!
And there’s the reason why everybody wonders how the Saints are in Cap Crunch every year. He’s not even worth half that.
Read this on sportsnuaght today:
It’s only going to get worse from here for the New Orleans Saints. We certainly don’t fault the team for releasing Michael Thomas and Marcus Maye, those moves had to be made just to get under the salary cap. However, all those extensions and contract restructures for everyone else come at a price. Specifically, the fact that New Orleans is already projected to be $60.5 million over the salary cap in 2025 and the Saints already have $225.75 million in total cap liabilities in 2026. The Saints roster is only getting older and they keep borrowing from the future. The big difference this time around, as opposed to previous years, the Saints’ ceiling on the field is almost non-existent.
If they finish sub-.500 once again this season, they need to blow it all the way up. That’s not something I say too often about NFL teams.
Yeah that’s what happens when you sign a mid QB for 4/$150 with a $7.5 mil cap hit in year 1
I think the Saints can’t resist trying to build Ohio State south with their team. Michael Thomas leaves and they immediately sign another Buckeye.
Olave is also a Buckeye
YES!! WHO DAT ⚜️
“WHO DAT”
That is exactly what the Saints fans will be saying when Chase Young takes his 6 game vacation during the season.
They’ll be saying WHO DEY when they find out Chase Young’s replacement
Saints are masters of ‘void’ year payments. Seems to never get their debt cleared yet they do entertain.
Maybe Young will live up to $13M instead of what he’s shown since drafted.
Makes sense why the Commies turned down the $17.5 million 5th year option on Young. Surprised to see him high tail out of San Francisco where he gets to be book ended with Nick Bosa. That would be the ideal place for him to soar and maybe even win a championship.
The Saints may do okay out of this deal, as it’s a one year deal. If Young wants to make decent money in 2025 he’ll have to shine in New Orleans. Young may play on one year contracts for the rest of his career after how he flamed out with the Redskins.
I like it on a 1 year commitment. Availability and effort have been question marks with Young, but if anything can motivate him, playing for that next contract should after having had the chance to gauge the market once.
We’ll see.
If it doesn’t work, again, one year, so not a big deal
Massive overpay!!!
What a stiff. Some front offices just can’t help themselves.
Young only had 2.5 sacks with the 49ers. He had 5 sacks while he was with the Commanders…
Later article states he’s in need of ‘neck surgery’ might be a problem that’s been with him for a bit.
Looks like Tarzan – plays like Jane.
He’s the new Clowney except Clowney actually had success a few years.
This dude is a chump.
Imagine if he remained focused/motivated instead of going through the motions so often
Second overall pick