When the offseason first started, general manager Mickey Loomis expressed the New Orleans Saints would be more aggressive in free agency. For many, the comments went in one ear and out the other, because every GM says something along those lines ahead of free agency. However, the Saints really did clear a ton of cap space, and made several moves, and even attempted some big ones they weren’t able to close.
New Orleans brought in new players and re-signed a ton of guys, building a team that’s a bit better and deeper on paper than it was last season. Unfortunately, not all of the moves the Saints made are viewed in a positive light. In fact, one analyst thinks New Orleans has one of the worst moves of the offseason.
Gary Davenport, in a recent piece for Bleacher Report, named the eight-worst free-agent signings of the 2025 offseason. The Saints re-signing Chase Young to a three-year deal was No. 3 on the list.
Bleacher Report names Saints’ re-signing of Chase Young one of the worst moves of the offseason
New Orleans brought Young back on a three-year deal worth $33 million guaranteed. Davenport called the contract baffling, arguing New Orleans paid Young for the player he could be instead of the player he currently is.
"The Saints are paying Young like he’s already rebounded. Like he’s a 10-sack edge-rusher capable of wreaking havoc on a weekly basis.Gary Davenport (Bleacher Report)
And while Young is still just 25, overpaying a player based on potential we haven’t really seen in years (at least not consistently) makes no sense for a Saints team with holes galore and too many bloated contracts already on the roster."
A lot of Saints fans will agree with this take after Young’s first year in New Orleans. Playing in all 17 games, the veteran defensive end recorded just 5.5 sacks and 21 tackles, with eight for a loss. However, he did have 34 total pressures, which became a point of contention amongst Saints fans. Some argued Young was being productive by influencing opposing quarterbacks with his pressure, while others demanded he convert those pressures into sacks.
Obviously, the pressures were enough for New Orleans, because the team signed him for three additional years. Young recently turned 26, so he still has the chance to make this a bargain deal, but only time will tell.