The New Orleans Saints are no strangers to bold moves in the NFL offseason. They have often made headlines with their aggressive approach to building a competitive roster. However, this year's signing of defensive end Chase Young has garnered significant attention. That speaks not only for its potential upside but also for the considerable risk it entails. Sure, the Saints have a history of gambling on high-reward players. Still, the addition of Young could either be a masterstroke or a misstep that hampers their aspirations for the coming season.
The Saints So Far
The Saints' relentless drive to restructure nearly every contract in their pursuit of NFC South dominance is significantly hindering their free agency activities. It has limited them mostly to re-signing their own players. New Orleans must revise this approach soon; otherwise, they risk being perpetually stuck in a cycle of vying for division titles only to be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The addition of Cedrick Wilson Jr offers some much-needed wide receiver depth following the release of Michael Thomas.
Here we'll look at the one player who is the New Orleans Saints' riskiest free agency move in the 2024 NFL offseason.
Chase Young, DE
Earlier this offseason, defensive end Chase Young inked a one-year, fully guaranteed $13 million deal with the New Orleans Saints. Young, who was traded from the Washington Commanders to the San Francisco 49ers last season, expressed enthusiasm about the defensive setup.
Keep in mind that the 49ers acquired Young at the trade deadline. They sent a compensatory third-round pick to the Commanders to enhance their edge rush capabilities. In San Francisco, Young played a key role in the Niners' pass-rushing schemes. He was primarily involved in obvious passing situations behind Clelin Ferrell. He recorded 2.5 sacks, 10 tackles, and 16 pressures in nine regular-season games. Young also added a sack in the 49ers' Super Bowl 58 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Over the season, Young, 24, matched his career high with 7.5 sacks. In addition, he tallied 25 tackles and 41 pressures between his time in Washington and San Francisco.
Complicated Contract
Young's one-year contract in New Orleans includes $13 million in guarantees, contingent on his remaining active and healthy for all 17 games. His 2024 salary cap hit stands at just over $3.4 million.
The contract is structured with $7.99 million in per-game roster bonuses spread over the next five years. 16 of these bonuses ar treated as a signing bonus for accounting purposes. This approach guarantees the amount now but spreads the cap hit. It allows the Saints to manage their cap more effectively. Additionally, the Saints will receive a $470,000 cap credit for each game Young misses in 2024.
If this deal ends after one year, the Saints will pay $3.4 million for Young in 2024 and potentially up to $9.1 million in dead money in 2025. This dead money figure decreases significantly if Young misses substantial time. The contract is team-friendly while also accommodating the player's needs. It provides Young with strong incentives to recover quickly from offseason neck surgery and be ready for Week 1.
Worth It?
There are no performance-based incentives in this contract. If Young remains healthy, he will earn the full $13 million. However, given his history of effort issues, this contract poses a considerable risk. Despite being more favorable for the Saints than initially reported, it remains one of the riskiest free agent signings.
The fact is that the Saints are banking on Young to perform at his best, unlike what the 49ers experienced post-trade. With the Niners, Young was generally a player hesitant in contact and allowed to leave in free agency without much resistance.
Having said that, he seems like a solid acquisition rather than a standout one, with his availability being the primary concern. Although the Saints have protected themselves financially, fans are wary due to past experiences with talented defensive ends missing extended time due to injuries. There's hope that Young can break this trend and prove to be a valuable asset for the Saints rather than continuing the pattern of sidelined defensive stars.
Looking Ahead
The Saints' decision to sign Chase Young is emblematic of their aggressive approach to team building. They have prioritized high-risk, high-reward moves in pursuit of immediate success. Yes, the potential upside of having a fully healthy and productive Young on the roster is tantalizing. However, the risks associated with his health and consistency cannot be ignored. For the Saints, this offseason move could define their 2024 season and beyond, for better or worse. Whether this gamble will be celebrated as a brilliant strategic coup or lamented as a costly mistake remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Saints have once again shown that they are willing to take significant risks in their quest for NFL glory.
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