NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Chase Young, a free agency defensive end, has signed to a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. This adds depth to the edge pass rush, which at times last season struggled to pressure quarterbacks.
“I intend to include a quality piece,” Young declared on Monday night during a video chat with reporters from New Orleans. “I’m going to give my play the spotlight.”
Carl Granderson led the Saints defensive ends with 8 1/2 sacks last season, as the team finished 29th in the NFL in sacks per pass attempt.
Young, who turns 25 in April, was selected by the Washington Commanders second overall out of Ohio State in 2020 after winning the AP Defensive Rookie Award.
of the Year. But in his second pro season, he had serious knee problems that kept him out for a large portion of 2022.
According to Young, “injuries definitely hindered a few things.” “The trip and the process are everything. I’m aware of my capabilities.
Young played in 16 games with the Commanders and the San Francisco 49ers last season, his most since his rookie year. The 49ers acquired him in a midseason trade. In the regular season, he had seven and a half sacks; in the Niners’ Super Bowl defeat to Kansas City, he added one more.
“I think I can improve in every aspect of my game. I’m still learning the game,” Young remarked. “I’ll try my hardest to ensure that the Saints understand they made the right choice.”
The 6-foot-5, 264-pound Young, whose new deal is said to pay up to $13 million, now comes into a position group that includes Cameron Jordan, the Saints’ all-time leading sack total.
Being a teammate of Jordan, according to Young, is “definitely something big for me.”
calling Jordan “a guy who I can spend time with who I can absorb the game from,” something I’m excited to accomplish.
With just two sacks in his most recent season, Jordan, who has 117 1/2 career sacks, has the fewest since his 2011 rookie year. But Jordan also persevered through ailments, earning commendable appreciation from the front office and coaches for his availability and potency versus the run.
Several clubs showed interest in Young, who said that the team’s “winning culture” and the “family atmosphere” he encountered at the team headquarters drew him to New Orleans.
After all-time passing leader Drew Brees retired, the Saints have finished 9-8 in 2021, 7-10 in 2022, and 9-8 in 2023 without making the playoffs. However, New Orleans qualified for the playoffs nine times between 2006 and 2020, and they were the 2009 Super Bowl champions.
Dennis Allen, a former defensive coordinator under Sean Payton, has been the Saints’ coach for the last two seasons. He momentarily retired in 2022 as the most successful coach in team history before going back to
Young, who said that the team’s “winning culture” and the “family atmosphere” he experienced at the team headquarters lured him to New Orleans, attracted interest from a number of teams.
The Saints have completed 9-8 in 2021, 7-10 in 2022, and 9-8 in 2023 without qualifying for the postseason since all-time passing leader Drew Brees retired. Nonetheless, New Orleans was the 2009 Super Bowl champions and qualified for the playoffs nine times between 2006 and 2020.
The previous two seasons have seen Dennis Allen, a former defensive coordinator under Sean Payton, lead the Saints. In 2022, after being the most successful coach in club history, he took a brief retirement and returned to
