NFL News: Chase Young, Saints Reportedly Agree to New $51M Contract in Free Agency

Chase Young will be a member of the New Orleans Saints for more than just one season.

The pass-rusher agreed to re-sign with the NFC South team on a new three-year, $51 million contract, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

There was a time when keeping Young would have been considered one of the biggest moves of the offseason for any team.

After all, the Ohio State product was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft and appeared well on his way to becoming a foundational cornerstone for the Washington Commanders when he took home the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

He was also a Pro Bowler that season with 44 tackles, 12 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, four passes defended, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

Washington made the playoffs that season in part because of his overall impact on the defensive side.

However, injuries limited him to nine games in 2021 and three games in 2022 before the Commanders decided not to exercise the fifth-year option in his rookie deal. They eventually traded him to the San Francisco 49ers during the 2023 campaign, and he did help lead the team to the Super Bowl with two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits and one sack in the postseason.

Young then agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal with the Saints for the 2024 season with the opportunity to bolster his value before another run at free agency this offseason.

He was solid for New Orleans with 31 tackles, 21 quarterback hits, 5.5 sacks and three passes defended. While the sack numbers weren't spectacular, he did generate enough pressure to tally more than one quarterback hit per game.

Perhaps most importantly, he remained largely healthy and appeared in all 17 contests despite undergoing neck surgery ahead of the campaign.

There is still plenty to like when it comes to Young. He is just 25 years old, has playoff experience and remained healthy last season. The upside is there, and he is also familiar with the Saints defense after playing for the team last year.

If he lives up to his potential, the New Orleans defense will be all the better for it.