The New Orleans Saints made a low-risk, medium-reward move by signing Chase Young last year, but they could lose the pass rusher after just one season. The second-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, most draft analysts believed Young to be the best pass-rushing prospect since Myles Garrett. While he never lived up to that hype, he had an impressive rookie season, recording 7.5 sacks and earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Unfortunately, a combination of injuries and effort concerns prevented him from recapturing that form. While he showed some promise in 2023, Chase Young had to settle for a one-year prove-it contract with the New Orleans Saints. Appearing in all 17 games, the edge defender finished the season with 5.5 sacks, 31 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, 21 quarterback hits, and a 66.4 PFF grade.
Chase Young will not earn a record-setting contract in free agency, but this solid campaign could make him too expensive for the Saints. Reliable pass rushers are difficult to find, and the team could easily lose Young to a desperate team like the Carolina Panthers or Los Angeles Chargers.
Panthers, Chargers Could Steal Free Agent Chase Young From Saints
The Carolina Panthers have hope for the future in quarterback Bryce Young, but he won’t guide this team to the playoffs without significant improvement from the defense. While the team fired some coaches, the fact Dave Canales retained defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero suggests he knows the team didn’t have the talent to succeed last year. Carolina (understandably) focused most of their resources on supporting Young last offseason, and now it’s time for Canales and company to build a well-rounded team.
Chase Young alone won’t fix this defense, but the former second-overall pick could add a much-needed boost to the pass rush. The Panthers never found a true replacement for Brian Burns, and Young alone cannot play up to that level. However, combining him with Jadeveon Clowney, D.J. Wonnum, and the returning Derrick Brown should give the Panthers an adequate defensive line. Nobody will confuse this unit with the 1985 Chicago Bears, but it should be solid enough for the upcoming season.
Harbaugh In the Trenches
The Los Angeles Chargers had one of the league’s better pass rushes last year, but the unit could look dramatically different in 2025. Impending free agent Khalil Mack is contemplating retirement, while former first-round pick Joey Bosa will probably be a cap casualty. Tuli Tuipulotu is a fine rotational player, but a coach like Jim Harbaugh will probably look for a better option in free agency. Harbaugh believes games are won and lost in the trenches, which could make him steal Chase Young from the Saints.
Young is not the best edge rusher on the market, but he’d be a smart add for a team looking for additional players to get after the quarterback. Armed with over $63 million in cap space, Los Angeles has the financial resources to add Young and another pass rusher while still addressing the glaring needs at wide receiver and tight end.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – USA Today Sports
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