The New Orleans Saints signed defensive end Chase Young to a prove-it deal this past offseason and some believe he has done enough to cash in once he hits free agency again in 2025.
Bucky Brooks of NFL.com recently highlighted seven impending free agents that he believed would ‘break the bank’ next season with new contracts and Young was among the players named. This is what Brooks had to say about his prediction.
“Pass rushers are always highly coveted, especially those with prototypical dimensions and dynamic traits. Though Young hasn’t played to expectations as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the 6-5, 264-pounder flashes enough disruptive potential to entice a needy team to gamble on his upside and potential. Given his 22 career sacks (including 5.5 in 2024) and seven forced fumbles — not to mention the fact that he’s still just 25 — Young is an enticing boom-or-bust prospect in a league that’s always hungry for QB hunters.”
Young has been an interesting case. He has generated the most pressure of anyone on the defense, and the second-most of his career, but it is still hard to really consider this year a win for him. The Ohio State Buckeyes product has had issues closing out on that pressure with only 5.5 sacks this season.
The former second-overall selection is still young and has at least shown flashes of brilliance over the past two seasons, so maybe a team will truly believe that they can be the ones to finally unlock his talents.
He had one of the best games of his career this past season against the woeful New York Giants offensive line. He picked up 12 of his 58 pressures that week per Pro Football Focus. Expect Young’s agent to point to highlights from that game when negotiating with teams this spring.
