Chase Young is back.
The New Orleans Saints agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal with the 25-year-old pass rusher, sources with knowledge of the situation said. The deal contains incentives that can boost the value to $57 million.
Young's deal also reportedly contains $33 million guaranteed, $27.1 million came at signing.
The contract marks a career payday for Young, who signed with New Orleans last year on a one-year, $13 million prove-it contract that contained provisions in case the former Defensive Rookie of the Year could not stay healthy. But Young appeared in all 17 games for the first time in his career and he boosted New Orleans' pass rush.
Though he finished with only 5 1/2 sacks, Young ranked sixth in pressures league wide, according to Next Gen Stats. His quarterback percentage of 16.2% also represented a personal best.
Drafted second overall in 2020, Young entered the NFL hyped as a generational pass rusher after a dominant college career at Ohio State. And at first, he lived up to the billing with an impressive 7 ½ sack rookie season that resulted in the Washington Commanders winning the division. But Young’s career trajectory changed in 2021 when he suffered a serious knee injury that kept him out for all but three games of the following season. He also signed with New Orleans last year needing neck surgery due to an injury from the previous season.
But Young found stability in New Orleans. Coaches praised him for his buy in and professionalism. He played nearly 63% of the team’s snaps, behind only Carl Granderson on the defensive line.
“Man, I feel like in terms of — I feel like I’ve pass rushed the best I have my whole entire career,” Young said last season. “You know my rookie year I had a great year, but I don’t even think I pass rushed anywhere I am right now, even though the sack number is not there.”
New Orleans’ commitment to Young comes as the team looks to fortify its defensive line. The team also signed starter Nathan Shepherd to a one-year extension Monday and acquired defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from the New England Patriots.
Last year, Young’s signing arguably marked the Saints’ only splash in free agency. And at the start of the league’s negotiating window Monday, his re-signing also proved to be the team’s first splash for this year, too.