The New Orleans Saints pulled off a feat they haven't done in over a decade. Cam Jordan and Chase Young both recorded their 10th sack of the season against the Atlanta Falcons. That made them the first pair of Saints to both have double digit sacks in the same season since Jordan and Junior Galette did it in 2013.
Jordan being a part of both of these occurrences over 10 years apart speaks volumes about his longevity. As much as it tells the story of Jordan's longevity, it also speaks to the surprise of seeing a resurgence in his production this year.
This is the first time the Saints have had a player hit 10 sacks since Jordan did it in 2021. For Jordan, this an epic bounce back in Year 15. For Young, it feels like a realization of potential. This was the first time in his career he's had double digit sacks. Young's recent trajectory suggests it won't be the last
Chase Young hitting 10 sacks feels like a passing of the torch
The Saints have been looking for their next great pass rusher for years. For many years, it was about finding Jordan a running mate. The Saints tried their hand in the NFL Draft on three different occasions. The Saints drafted Marcus Davenport, Peyton Turner and Isaiah Foskey in the top 50 over the span of 6 years.
It didn't matter if it was the freaky athletic player with all the traits or the most decorated pass rusher in a prestigious university's history. The Saints never landed a consistent partner for Jordan when he was an elite player. The closest the Saints got was Galette and Trey Hendrickson. Neither man lasted in New Orleans long after their ascension for drastically different reasons, however.
The Saints haven't had two double digit sack artists in over a decade, but they haven't even had one player hit the mark since Jordan did it in 2021. Fast forward to present day and Jordan is on the back end of his career. The 10.5 sacks says he has juice left, but there wouldn't be nearly the same optimism if Jordan was the only player to do it.
Young hitting 10 sacks after having a season filled with pressures in 2024 suggests he's turning the corner. He may not be Jordan's running mate, but Young is showing he has potential to be something better, Jordan's replacement. Jordan also had 10 sacks, but nature's clock is ticking. It's hard to project exactly what's replicable moving forward for him.
Young, on the other hand, has been around for a while, but he's still only 26 years old. He has the time and potential to be a consistent 10+ sack guy and the Saints top edge rusher for years to come. After many attempts, the Saints may have finally found someone who can fit the role.