Defensive end is one of the biggest concerns for the New Orleans Saints as they’re currently constructed. Despite the selections of Payton Turner and Isaiah Foskey with top-40 picks in 2021 and 2023, the pass rush remains at the bottom of the league. There were 27 teams with more sacks last season than the Saints.
The issue should be addressed this offseason either in free agency or the upcoming 2024 NFL draft. Veteran options will be available sooner, and the Saints aren’t known for their patience, so that’s where we’ll start looking. ESPN’s Aaron Schatz identified San Francisco 49ers defensive end Chase Young as a solution for the Saints who may hit the open market:
The best option might be a one-year, prove-it contract for Young. He couldn’t stay healthy in 2021 and 2022, and while he had 7.5 sacks in 2023, his game fell off after he was dealt to San Francisco in the middle of the season. Young ranked 15th among edge rushers with a 19.3% pass rush win rate off the edge, but that went from 24.8% while he was with Washington to just 12.9% with San Francisco (through the playoffs). On a one-year deal with New Orleans, Young could play opposite Cameron Jordan and prove he still has all the talent that made him the No. 2 overall pick in 2020.
A prove-it contract would be mutually beneficial for both parties. If Young performs well, he gets to hit the market in 2025 and likely get a moderately lucrative contract because of his draft pedigree. Losing Young after a year is a downside for New Orleans, but that’s a risk they’ll have to be comfortable taking, and there’s a good chance the Saints receive a compensatory draft pick if he leaves.
Young likely wouldn’t cost much because of his injury history and recent inconsistent play. Signing him would be a low-risk, high-reward move. Let’s see if it’s in the cards for New Orleans.
