Déjà vu in New Orleans? No. 99 is wreaking havoc in camp for the second year running.
Last offseason, the New Orleans Saints took a gamble on former No. 2 overall pick Chase Young, signing the now 26-year-old to a one-year, $13 million deal. Fresh off a neck procedure, Young returned to the field earlier than anticipated and was available for his first training camp in black and gold—and he absolutely dominated.
This offseason, the Saints doubled down, locking up Young with a three-year, $51 million contract that includes $33 million guaranteed. With new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley now in the building, Young is putting on a show once again—and may be set up for a career year.
Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images
Young managed to appear in all 17 games for New Orleans in 2024, finishing sixth in total pressures league-wide with 73, per Next Gen Stats. Given his injury history—and the glimpses we saw of the terror he can be—those numbers were certainly encouraging.
However, you’d like to see him hit home on more of those hurries. He finished the season with just 5.5 sacks, so if he can take down quarterbacks as effectively as he gets to them, we could finally see the breakout year we’ve all been waiting for. That’s where Staley’s 3-4 defense comes into play.
He mentioned the freedom this new scheme provides for the pass rushers. Based on what the offense presents in front of them, they get to decide whether to put their hand in the dirt or stand up off the edge. So far, Young has been a nightmare in the stand-up role, as he and opposite edge rusher Carl Granderson have been disruptive in both the pass and run game.
It’s worth noting that both have dropped playing weight this offseason, with Young specifically shedding about five to six pounds—bringing him closer to his weight during his brief tenure with the San Francisco 49ers. He said he feels lighter, much stronger, and overall, in better shape.
We had the opportunity to hear from Young after practice on Sunday, and here’s what he had to say:
“I’ve just tried to continue to work on everything, bringing everything together. That’s gonna be a big thing for me this year… I feel like I got a lot to prove to myself. I know what I can do…. it’s time to show it.”
Could this be the year Chase Young finally puts it all together and becomes the star edge rusher we know he has the potential to become?