Free-agent edge rusher Chase Young, who most recently played for the San Francisco 49ers, is expected to visit with the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL media.
Pelissero adds that a “handful of teams” have expressed interest in Young.
Young is one of the more intriguing players available in free agency this offseason.
The 24-year-old played his collegiate football at Ohio State and was originally selected by the Washington Commanders (back when they were called “The Washington Football Team”) with the second overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He enjoyed an impressive rookie campaign, racking up 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown en route to a Pro Bowl appearance.
It appeared that Young was ready to elevate himself into the category of top pass rushers in football, but the following year, he played in just nine games before tearing his ACL.
Then, in 2022, Young was limited to three contests as he recovered from the injury.
During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Young amassed a grand total of 1.5 sacks as he began to fade into near irrelevancy.
The Upper Marlboro, Md. native returned this past season and got off to a solid start with the Commanders, registering 15 tackles and five sacks over his first seven contests.
Washington then dealt him to the 49ers at the trade deadline in October, and in nine regular-season games in San Francisco, he recorded just 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He then logged eight tackles and a sack in three playoff games.
Young has certainly not lived up to expectations, but he will be just 25 years old at the start of next season and clearly has talent.
The Panthers and Saints are two teams in desperate need of pass rushers. Carolina totaled just 27 sacks in 2023, and that was with Brian Burns, who the Panthers just traded to the New York Giants on Monday.
Meanwhile, New Orleans posted 34 sacks this past season.
Chase Young would be a fine addition to either ballclub.
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