Free agent edge defender Chase Young had a rather tumultuous season in 2024. After missing the better part of two seasons battling injuries, the former second-overall pick finally managed to stay healthy in 2023. Starting the year with the Washington Commanders, the Ohio State product recorded five sacks in seven games before Washington decided to send him to the San Francisco 49ers at the trade deadline. He wasn’t nearly as effective in his new home, recording just 2.5 sacks while appearing in nine regular season games. Young showed a notable lack of effort on certain plays during San Francisco’s playoff run, but he came through with a strong performance in the Super Bowl.
Despite his rather rocky tenure in San Francisco, the 49ers reportedly want to bring Chase Young back as a free agent. This report comes courtesy of ESPN’s Dan Graziano, who states that the team liked what they saw from the trade acquisition and is interested in bringing him back at the right cost.
San Francisco 49ers Want to Re-Sign Free Agent Chase Young
That aforementioned right cost is going to determine what happens with free agent Chase Young. Coming out of the 2020 NFL Draft, most analysts believed Young to be the best pass rushing prospect since Myles Garrett. While he hasn’t played up to that potential, he would’ve earned a sizable paycheck had he finished the season on a high note. The early-season version of Young would’ve secured a long-term deal, but his poor play with the 49ers means he might have to settle for a one-year, “prove-it” deal.
As of this posting, the San Francisco 49ers are $3.4 million over the 2024 salary cap, per Spotrac. Having a franchise quarterback on a seventh-round rookie contract makes it easier to build a team, but the 49ers will still need to move some money around before the start of the league year. Chase Young might not get the long-term deal he desires, but a few teams could outbid the 49ers and sign the free agent to a high-paying one-year deal.
Best Team Fits
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have the biggest competitive advantage in sports: an elite quarterback on a rookie contract. After years of terrible play, this team is finally ready to win a championship, and they need to go all-in to maximize their Super Bowl window. Armed with over $70 million in cap space, Houston should focus on adding as much win-now talent as physically possible over the next few months. Will Anderson had a strong rookie year, and pairing him with Chase Young as a free agent could create a lethal pass rush. Taking down the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC won’t be easy, but the Texans are in a position to do it if they make the right moves in the offseason.
Chicago Bears
Justin Fields is as good as gone, which means Chicago reset the clock on the rookie quarterback contract window. Caleb Williams should be better than Fields, and the team now has five years of a cost-controlled franchise passer. With this in mind, the team can afford to sign a high-ceiling free agent like Chase Young. We already know that he and Montez Sweat work well together, and the duo should be just as dominant under Matt Eberflus. With Williams revitalizing the offense and multiple free agents improving the defense, don’t be surprised if the Bears make it back to the playoffs in 2024.
Baltimore Ravens
The list of Baltimore Ravens free agents is just about endless, and they won’t be able to bring everyone back. Instead of trying to replace multiple good-but-not-great players, the Ravens could choose to swing for the fences with Chase Young as a free agent. Young is an admittedly risky signing, but his ceiling is much higher than that of Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy. While Young will earn a larger contract than Van Noy, he’ll probably cost about the same as Clowney.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Josh Allen is coming back, but he can’t solve the Jaguars pass rush woes all by himself. Despite taking down the quarterback 17.5 times last year, Jacksonville still found a way to finish dead last in sacks. This speaks to just how bad the rest of the Jaguars edge defenders were, as it’s officially time to hit the panic button with former first-overall pick Travon Walker. Chase Young will provide the Jaguars with a worthy complement for Allen, and the free agent can help Jacksonville reclaim the AFC South title from the upstart Houston Texans.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs will only be interested in Chase Young if they lose Chris Jones as a free agent. Obviously, Jones and Young do not play the same position, but their ultimate goal is the same: take down the quarterback. While Jones is a considerably better player, Young can help fill the gap if the defensive tackle signs with a new team. As is it, the Chiefs could use another edge defender following a disappointing debut from first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah, and Jones’ potential departure will only increase that need.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports
