Former second-overall pick Chase Young is one of the best players remaining on the free agent market. Once considered to be a generational prospect on the same level as Myles Bryant, the Ohio State product has not managed to play up to his pre-draft billing. However, he is an effective player when on the field and should earn a decent payday before long, even if he has to settle for a one-year deal.
After missing most of the 2021 and 2022 seasons with injuries, Chase Young stayed healthy before becoming a free agent. Starting the year with the Washington Commanders, the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year recorded five sacks in seven games before the team traded him to the San Francisco 49ers. He wasn’t nearly as effective there, recording just 2.5 sacks in nine games and noticeably taking plays off in the postseason. However, he finished on a high note, playing like one of the 49ers best defenders in the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Chase Young offers plenty of upside, but his injuries and inconsistent effort make him a long-term risk. However, you can never have too many players capable of getting after the quarterback, and recent reports indicate that Young is set to visit three separate teams in the coming days.
Chase Young to visit #Panthers #Saints per a league source expected to visit #Titans too @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 12, 2024
Chase Young To Visit 3 Teams Before Free Agent Signing
The Carolina Panthers have a clear need on the edge after trading Brian Burns to the New York Giants. This team was the worst in the league last year, but they’ve done a good job of filling most of their holes. While they still need to fix the receiver position, the offensive line should be able to provide adequate protection for Bryce Young following the signings of Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. With this added offensive security, the team could easily justify signing Chase Young as a free agent.
The New Orleans Saints will have a heck of a time finding a way to make the money work on this one. However, assuming they can manipulate the salary cap, Chase Young makes perfect sense as a free agent. This team never found a true replacement for Marcus Davenport, and 2023 second-round pick Isaiah Foskey didn’t do much of anything as a rookie. While it’s too early to completely give up on the youngster, Young is a great insurance policy in the event Foskey doesn’t make the Year 2 leap.
The Titans, meanwhile, have already added a lot of free agent talent, but should have some cash left over for Chase Young. Tennessee entered free agency with roughly $80 million in cap space, and while we don’t know the exact details of the contracts they handed out, there’s no way they spent all that money already. The former second-overall pick would be a smart signing for a team that is probably going to have to win with defense, at least in the short term.
The Dark Horse Teams
We know that Chase Young is going to visit the three aforementioned teams, but there are a few dark horse organizations that could make a push for the free agent. At the top of the list is the Houston Texans. While the team already signed Denico Autry for decent money, they have the money to go after another pass rusher. With C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson on rookie contacts, Houston needs to maximize their championship window and go all-in on the 2024 version of this team.
And speaking of teams that should be going all-in, the Kansas City Chiefs have a chance to be the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive titles. Chris Jones is locked up for the long term, but Travis Kelce and Andy Reid are not getting any younger. This team will always be competitive as long as Patrick Mahomes is under center, but their optimal window of opportunity is closing. With Felix Anudike-Uzomah failing to impress as a rookie, the team could use a one-year rental like Chase Young as a free agent.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports
