The 2024 season was an abysmal one for the New Orleans Saints. The team finished with a 5-12 record, fired their head coach in the middle of the season, and lost several key players to significant injuries. When things are unraveling in a disastrous fashion like that, it’s hard to appreciate the few things that are still going good.
While it may seem hard to believe, the Saints still had several players put together solid individual seasons. Some of those efforts were recognized, like Alvin Kamara, who had one of the most productive seasons of his career. For other guys, their production flew under the radar.
That’s why Kevin Patra makes it a point to name every team’s unsung hero. In a recent piece on NFL.com, Patra highlighted an overlooked or surprise contributor for each team. To make the list, players couldn’t have made the Pro Bowl this season. For the Saints, Chase Young was the highlighted player.
Chase Young named unsung hero for Saints in 2024
Patra pointed out Young was signed to a one-year prove it deal last offseason, and he argues the veteran defensive end delivered on his end on the deal. While not racking up a ton of sacks, Young proved to be a consistent pass rusher, getting a ton of pressures.
"The Saints' hired gun for the 2024 season lived up to his end of the one-year bargain. Young generated 73 quarterback pressures, per Next Gen Stats, sixth-most in the NFL, despite not sniffing a Pro Bowl invite or garnering much attention at all. The limited sack total (5.5) and New Orleans' struggles likely had something to do with that, but Young proved he can still provide pressure. He might not be the perennial Pro Bowler he looked like in Year 1, and his run-game deficiencies don't help, but in a league that is in constant search of QB hunters, Young's pressure rate speaks for itself."Kevin Patra (NFL.com)
Now, the veteran defensive end is set to enter free agency again, and he’s only turning 26 years old this offseason. Proving that he can still rush the passer at a high level, he’ll likely sign a nice contract this offseason with a team that isn’t the Saints. A contending team with cap space will surely offer him an opportunity and contract that New Orleans can’t compete with.