The Washington Commanders traded Chase Young before the NFL Trade Deadline last season to the San Francisco 49ers. Young had an opportunity to win a Super Bowl and get a fresh start with a 49ers team that was arguably the best in football. As a free agent, Young will have options and a chance to prove he can be the player he was prior to his injuries. Of the potential landing spots, Aaron Schatz of ESPN predicts that he’ll sign with the New Orleans Saints.
Schatz views Young as a player on a prove-it deal. The thought of Young and Nick Bosa lining up together in 2023-24 was a scary thought, but Young didn’t dominate as much as he was expected to. That could leave teams hesitant to pay him big money, especially with his injuries. Young played in nine games in 2021 and three in 2022. Schatz writes that the former Commanders No. 2 pick could be an option for the Saints.
“Well, here we are with the Saints again needing to restructure a bunch of contracts. Yet they always seem to find space for a couple of free agent signings. The biggest need here is pretty obvious, as New Orleans ranked 31st in pass rush win rate and 31st in adjusted sack rate. There are several strong free agent edge rushers, and the Saints need to find one who fits their budget.
A prove-it deal for a year could be the wisest course of action for Young. In 2021 and 2022, he struggled to maintain his health, and in 2023, although recording 7.5 sacks, his performance declined following his trade to San Francisco in the midst of the season. With a 19.3% pass rush win percentage off the edge, Young was rated fifteenth among edge rushers; however, that number dropped from 24.8% while he was with Washington to only 12.9% with San Francisco (through the playoffs). Young could play opposite Cameron Jordan for New Orleans on a one-year contract and demonstrate that he still possesses all the skills that landed him the No. 2 overall choice in 2020.
