Chase Young missed only one game last season, coming back from a knee injury that marred the previous two years. But his free agent market underwhelmed. The former No. 2 overall pick settled for a Saints contract that has turned out to be heavy in per-game roster bonuses. His upcoming neck surgery has brought another hurdle.
New Orleans gave Young a $13MM contract, but one that hinges on the former Washington and San Francisco starter suiting up. Young visited three teams — the Saints, Titans and Panthers — over the past week, but SI.com’s Albert Breer notes none would clear the Ohio State alum on his physical. It is not uncommon for players to fail a physical and land a free agency deal, as prior injuries requiring rehab efforts are regularly baked into teams’ pursuits of certain players.
Young sustained a neck stinger during a preseason game last year, causing him to miss Week 1. He returned and played the rest of the way, totaling 7.5 sacks during a season split between the Commanders and 49ers. San Francisco ended up with Young — in exchange for a third-round compensatory pick — because Washington dropped its asking price. The Bears were among the other teams interested in Young, but Breer adds his neck scans provided the NFC North team with enough concern it moved in another direction. This led to Montez Sweat going to Chicago and signing an upper-crust extension (four years, $98MM).
The 49ers were comfortable with Young’s medical sheet, and they were interested in re-signing him. San Francisco hopes at a higher-end compensatory pick will not come to fruition as a result of this contract. The 49ers have moved on, signing Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos. Young will be expected to recover and play opposite Cameron Jordan, with both his 2024 earnings and 2025 free agent market hinging on a smooth recovery from this neck operation.
Previously ticketed for a contract a few tiers north of the one he ultimately received, Young has seen his career hit a crossroads. While returning to full health could reestablish the 25-year-old edge rusher as being worthy of a deal in the Sweat neighborhood, Young has seen injuries sidetrack his career. To prevent another round of one-year offers from coming to pass, the fifth-year defender will need to stay healthy in New Orleans.