Saints’ Chase Young Quietly Emerging as Top NFL Pass Rusher

From the outset, Chase Young was expected to become one of the NFL's premier pass rushers following his selection as the second overall pick by the Washington Commanders. Young, a standout college player at Ohio State, had recorded an impressive 16.5 sacks in his junior year, breaking the single-season school record despite missing two games.

His expectations did not fully materialize upon entering the NFL. During his rookie season with Washington, Young managed only 7.5 sacks and 42 pressures. Following this, he played only twelve games and recorded just 1.5 sacks over the following two years. Consequently, the Commanders declined Young's fifth-year option.

In 2023, Young's best performance came with the Washington Commanders, where he recorded 5 sacks and 38 pressures in seven games before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers at the deadline. Despite his strong start with the 49ers, Young was unable to replicate his Washington performance and was subsequently waived by the team. The former generational prospect subsequently became an unrestricted free agent.

The New Orleans Saints eventually signed Young to a one-year $13 million prove-it deal ahead of the 2024 season. Although this contract fell short of top dollar, it was deemed a reasonable deal considering Young's production up to that point. With the Saints, Young's performance improved, recording the highest pressure rate of his career at 13.7% (excluding his abbreviated 2022 season). He signed a three-year, $51 million deal with the Saints in 2025, underscoring his growing value as a player.