Chase Young, a defensive end, was the New Orleans Saints’ biggest free agent acquisition. After agreeing to a one-year contract worth $13 million with Young, the Saints made no notable signings before or after his acquisition. However, there was still a lot of excitement about signing Young since he can handle one of the team’s most pressing needs: pass rushing.
Not everyone is as bullish about the signing, however. Obviously, there are some skeptics because Young had a neck treatment a few days after signing with the Saints, but there are also those who believe Chase Young is simply not a good match for New Orleans. Alex Kay of Bleacher Report is part of that group.
Kay just wrote an article detailing five players who signed with the wrong team during free agency. Chase Young was the last player listed. Kay claimed that this agreement made no sense for either party. Kay explained that it’s a horrible contract for the Saints because they overpaid for Young. Even if Young lives up to his contract, Kay feels the Saints will be unable to re-sign him to a long-term contract, rendering this signing mostly ineffective because Kay does not regard New Orleans as a contender.
That’s also why Kay believes the Saints were a poor pick for Young, as the team isn’t prepared to compete this season. These are obviously valid issues, but claiming that the deal did not make sense for either party may be going too far.
For starters, Young was looking for a short-term prove-it deal, and he found it in New Orleans. That alone makes it the ideal squad for him. Furthermore, he’ll have the opportunity to really show himself on a defensive line where he can receive a lot of practice.
Furthermore, the assumption that the Saints cannot compete in the NFC South is a leap. Sure, Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons appear to be the division’s leaders, but the division isn’t particularly strong, and New Orleans tied for the best record in the division last season. The Saints understood they needed to make some changes if they wanted to win the NFC South, and that’s what they’re attempting to accomplish. If Chase Young gets healthy, he will improve New Orleans’ pass rush, making this a solid deal for both parties.