Former Ohio State Star Chase Young Has Multiple Suitors In Free Agency
Former Ohio State defensive end Chase Young might not be headed back to San Francisco, but he'll have suitors this offseason in free agency to land a potentially lucrative contract.
Young, the former No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, is expected to visit with the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans before making a final decision on where he'll play in 2024, according to NFL Network.
Those three teams are the only ones that have been reported, so Young could sign elsewhere at a later date. All the franchises are in need of a No. 1 pass-rusher following woeful 2023 campaigns in the sack department.
Drafted by the Washington Commanders after earning Heisman recognition in 2019, Young entered the NFL with massive expectations. He seemed destined to be the league's big pass-rusher after winning AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, but his career has been hindered mainly due to injury.
A torn ACL and a ruptured patellar tendon left Young sidelined for 22 games between 2021 and 2022. He seemed to be trending back to speed at the start of the 2023 season, but after Washington elected to start a rebuild, Young was shipped out west.
While effective as a rotational defensive end, Young's production never matched the hype. He finished with 2.5 sacks and a tackle for loss in nine games as a member of the NFC Champion roster. In Washington, Young totaled five sacks and six tackles for loss, along with nine quarterback hits.
At 24, there's still optimism that Young has something left to become a staple No. 2 pass-rusher in the league. Carolina, which traded star edge rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants, could be in need of his services and might be willing to overpay given their lack of draft capital.
Tennessee is under new management following the firing of former Buckeye Mike Vrabel. The pass rush in Nashville has been sour over the last two seasons, mainly due to injury and lack of development. Last season, Tennessee recorded 46 sacks, 23 of which came between Denico Autry, who signed with the Houston Texans, and Harold Landry III.
New Orleans, schematically, fits best for Young. The Saints are expected to add to their group of pass rushers, either through free agency or the draft, after a disappointing showing in 2023. Last season, New Orleans' defensive ends combined for just 14 sacks last season, with Carl Granderson being responsible for 8.5 of them.
A staple of the Buckeyes' line for three seasons, Young became one of college football's top pass-rushers in 2019 with his breakout 16.5 sack season. In three seasons, Young totaled 98 tackles, 40.5 tackles for loss, 30.5 tackles and eight pass breakups.
He was named an All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.