The New Orleans Saints haven't made many moves so far in free agency (though they've lost some guys) but they've kept a key contributor in the Big Easy for at least a few more years, as they've agreed to retain Chase Young on a multi-year contract, according to Ian Rapoport.
Young was the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and was in the conversation to go first overall. That's how good the guy was while playing at Ohio State. As we know now, however, Young ended up with Washington and didn't live up to the hype of being the second overall pick. He was traded to San Francisco during the 2023 season and then signed with New Orleans last offseason.
Part of what plagued Young during his time in DC was that he couldn't stay healthy, only appearing in double-digit games his rookie year. Young stayed healthy for the Saints in 2024 and appeared in all 17 regular season games. It appears that he was happy to be a part of the Who Dat Nation and is now coming back on a three-year deal worth $51 million.
What grade do the Saints deserve for re-signing Chase Young?
Not much went right for the Saints in 2024 but Young was a surprisingly effective addition. Considering the Saints' injury issues in recent years, the fact that he was able to stay healthy was a miracle. Young finished with 5.5 sacks and 21 quarterback hits and was a nice piece for NOLA on the defensive side of the ball.
While the deal itself might be a bit risky considering Young's (and this team's) injury history, the Saints locked up a key member of the defense and it's hard to fault them much at all for that. This team isn't exactly a premiere spot right now so if Young is happy to return, the Saints are happy to keep him in the black and gold for the foreseeable future.
With all of that in mind, the Saints get a B+ for re-signing Chase Young.