The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need more talented edge rushers, so it might have been understandable for some fans to be frustrated when they saw free agent Chase Young sign a one-year deal with the division-rival New Orleans Saints this week.
Young, a former No. 2 overall pick, might have seemed like an ideal replacement for Shaq Barrett, who was released to save salary cap space earlier in the offseason.
Young’s one-year deal with the Saints was originally reported as a full-guaranteed pact worth $13 million for 2024, but as it turns out, that’s not the whole story.
There’s also a very good reason why, as MMQB’s Albert Breer breaks down here:
Some background on Saints DE Chase Young's deal: Scans on his neck made it tough to find a suitor. No one would clear him on his physical. The condition was initially found after he had a stinger last year vs. the Browns in preseason.
He'll have neck surgery tomorrow.
(cont.)
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 20, 2024
The idea in doing the 1-year deal with the Saints, with $5.01 million guaranteed, and $7.99 million in per-game rosters, was to allow for Young to get locked in with a team, go through the 3-5 month rehab from surgery, and have a chance to make the money back.
(cont.)
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 20, 2024
And with the per-game rosters, really, this protects the team and the player—it's 100% based on his ability to get cleared to play. The neck condition was a factor, too, in his trade market back in October. The Bears weren't comfortable with the scans. The Niners were.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 20, 2024
It’s not clear whether or not any other teams had interest in signing Young outside of the Saints, but if the Bucs weren’t among them, this information makes it clear why not.
There are still some veteran options available if the Bucs want an experienced replacement for Barrett, but they’re also expected to target a top edge rusher early in the 2024 NFL draft.
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