Chase Young Is An Intriguing Fallback Edge Option

I write this article fully on the Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby bandwagon. On one hand, I believe the Green Bay Packers should do whatever they can to acquire one of those two difference makers. This is the season to go all in and compete for a championship, and this team is missing a real star on the defensive line.

On the other hand, I’m also realistic, having lived through many Packers offseasons like this. I don’t expect Brian Gutekunst to give up significant draft capital or other premium assets to acquire either of those guys. I see it being a bit too rich for his taste. With the recent draft and contract investments on the defensive line, it may not be the best use of resources.

However, there’s one highly intriguing edge rusher option out there on the upcoming free-agent market: Chase Young.

Young has not fully lived up to draft status as the second-overall pick in 2020. He’s been an average pass rusher after being named Defensive Rookie Of the Year and making the Pro Bowl in his rookie season. He also played for his third team last year. NFL teams don’t churn through young, productive pass rushers.

Still, let’s look at why Green Bay might be a good fit for the former Ohio State Buckeye.

First, his age. Crosby is only turning 26 by the time next season starts, so he still has many years of potential high-impact football ahead of him. Some fans are clamoring for Khalil Mack as the free-agent target if they can’t swing a trade, but he’s 34.

Mack might be an impact player for a year or so, or he might not. The decline comes fast and hard for players on that side of 30. I would prefer to see the team add a player who can grow over multiple seasons instead of a one-year stopgap like Mack would.

It also seems like the Packers are targeting free agents in the middle of their prime. Last year's additions, Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney, were 26 and 25, respectively, when Green Bay signed them. Given what Gutekunst has done in the past, Young falls more in line with the type of free agent he’s willing to pursue to add to the rest of Green Bay’s young nucleus.

Green Bay’s defensive front failed to generate pressure with four down linemen last year. If you need proof of how important that is, watch Super Bowl LIX again (if you can stomach it). Philadelphia’s front generated pressure on Mahomes all night long. Those pressures led to sacks and, even more importantly, to two Mahomes interceptions.

Good things happen when you pressure with the front four.

Not many players generated pressure better than Chase Young last year. Pro Football Focus credited Young with 66 pressures, good for seventh in the NFL. He also had 21 quarterback pressures, a career-high. PFF credited Young with 24 pressures within three seconds, 11th among edge defenders.

His 16.2% pressure rate was three points higher than Rashan Gary, who led the Packers in pressure rate, and five points higher than Lukas Van Ness. Adding Young would allow Green Bay to generate pressure more consistently next year. Young played his best football late last season. He had a two-sack performance against the Washington Commanders and a 12-pressure performance against the New York Giants.

Young played under Jeff Hafley in 2019 when Hafley was the co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State. Young cemented himself as one of the best defensive players in the country and turned himself into a top pick. He had 16.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles as a junior. He was unblockable for many offensive lines.

While much has changed since then, Hafley could coax some of that production from his former player. Some defenders like Kenny Clark seemed to have difficulty adjusting to the new scheme, but Young should adapt quicker.

So, what would a Chase Young deal look like for Green Bay? After settling for a one-year, $13 million contract with the New Orleans Saints last year, I’m sure he would like to strike on something longer-term and a bit more lucrative. Spotrac projects him to land a four-year $70 million contract in free agency. That seems to be perfectly reasonable for a player of his caliber. With Young, the Packers would get a 25-year-old with Pro Bowl upside coming off two consecutive seasons of good health.

Young probably isn’t returning to the Saints, who are dealing with cap trouble again. New Orleans is $54.1 million over the cap for next year and might finally be looking at a complete team overhaul. Young will likely find himself calling a new city home in 2025 yet again, so why not Green Bay?

He’s young, has upside as a pass-rusher, and is coming off a season of good health. He’s an option for the Packers if they can’t land Garrett or Crosby. Gutekunst and Co. should prioritize adding more blue-chip players this offseason, and you don’t get much more blue-chip than a former No. 2-overall pick with Chase Young’s pedigree.