Tag: Chase Young

Chase Young eager to learn from Cameron Jordan, join team full of Buckeyes

Chase Young is looking forward to sharing the field with several Buckeyes in New Orleans, plus a “future Hall of Famer” in Cameron Jordan:

Chase Young will be taking the field with the New Orleans Saints alongside several new teammates — but also many familiar faces. The team features several former Ohio State Buckeyes who played with Young in college.

Outside of Young, the Saints currently have three Ohio State alumni on the roster between cornerback Marshon Lattimore, linebacker Pete Werner and wide receiver Chris Olave. To say nothing of leaders he respects like Cameron Jordan and Tyrann Mathieu. He is looking forward to reuniting with them and getting to learn under the Saints coaching staff as he adjusts to a new team.

“Yeah, looking great. Excited to be with Coach Allen, be with Cam, Tyrann,” Young told Yahoo! Sports before the 2024 NFL draft, standing tall and looking at ease after offseason neck surgery in March. He continued, “Pete Werner who I went to college with. Marshon (Lattimore), he was before me. I was there with (Chris) Olave. So it feels like Ohio State University over there a little bit. I’m definitely excited to be a part of that defense. I’m definitely settled in, I’m ready to go.”

Young also says that he’s eager to have the chance to work with and share a defense with standout defensive end Cameron Jordan: “Hoping I don’t get too annoying. I’m definitely going to be asking him, picking his thoughts on everything. Obviously Cam, he’s a future Hall of Famer. Hundred-plus sacks, just an O.G. in the game. So it’s definitely a great opportunity I don’t take for granted.”

Young was originally selected by the Washington Commanders as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, taking the field for the team for four seasons before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers last year. He was signed by the Saints in March to a unique $13 million deal. Young totaled 2.5 sacks and 10 tackles with 16 pressures over nine regular-season appearances for the 49ers, also accounting for a sack in the team’s Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

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NFL reinstates Commanders DE Shaka Toney after suspension

Toney was a seventh-round pick in 2021 and returns to a completely different team.

You can add one more name to the mix at defensive end for the Washington Commanders in 2024. The NFL reinstated five players who were suspended indefinitely last year for violating the gambling policy, and one of those players was Washington edge rusher Shaka Toney.

Things have changed dramatically since the last time Toney was in Ashburn. The 26-year-old was a 2021 seventh-round pick out of Penn State who appeared in 26 games with one start, recording 16 tackles and 1.5 sacks from 2021-22.

Toney was suspended on April 21 last year. Since then, Washington has added a new draft class, a new owner, a new GM, a new coaching staff, and over 30 new teammates.

The defensive end room is completely changed, and Efe Obada is the only familiar face from Toney’s previous time in Washington. Gone are Chase Young, Montez Sweat, James Smith-Williams and Casey Toohill. In are K.J. Henry, Andre Jones Jr., Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler Jr. and Clelin Ferrell.

Toney faces long odds making the roster, with the Commanders also likely to add a pass rusher in next week’s NFL draft.

As expected Commanders hosting Maye and Daniels next week

The Commanders get some face time with Maye and Daniels next week — one week before the NFL draft.

Well, that didn’t take long.

Just 24 hours ago, Commanders Wire encouraged Commanders fans not to make too much of Tuesday’s announcement that Jayden Daniels would visit the Commanders next week.

Though Adam Schefter, Brian Kelly and Colin Cowherd had all said in the past week that the Commanders were going to draft Daniels, we said, yes, the Commanders may draft Daniels, but those guys don’t actually know whom the Commanders are going to select.

We also declared that Adam Peters would certainly have Drake Maye visit the facility and perhaps J.J. McCarthy as well.

So, Wednesday brought the announcement that North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye will also visit Ashburn next week.

Indeed, Adam Peters, Dan Quinn, and owner Josh Harris have wisely not given any indication to anyone in the media who the Commanders will select with that No. 2 overall selection.

The possibility exists that the three may not only be acting wisely to not publicly declare their intentions. Seeing these three quarterbacks are also receiving such varied evaluations from the draft analysts, could it be that the Commanders trio of Peters, Quinn and Harris honestly, have not yet been able to be in unison regarding the selection?

Perhaps, being undecided, the Commanders are still continuing to do their necessary homework. If that is the case, could it be that this final visit/interview for each next week may be the determining factor in the end?

It’s a huge decision for Quinn and Peters. Just last year, the Panthers took Bryce Young, yet the guy selected next was C.J. Stroud, who had a much better rookie season.

With that in mind, the Commanders may want to conduct one more face-to-face interaction to observe how the young men refer to surprising questions or statements.

Ron Rivera chose Chase Young at No. 2 when quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert were not chosen until the fifth and sixth selections. Rivera never recovered and never obtained the quarterback he needed, either.

 

New Orleans Saints free agent profile: Chase Young

Chase Young must make an immediate impact in 2024. How does his signing affect the Saints’ strategy in the first round of the 2024 draft?

Chase Young comes to the New Orleans Saints after half a season with the San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco picked up the former number 2 overall pick at the 2023 trade deadline. Young’s career hasn’t gone how many expected. After winning the defensive rookie of the year, Young never took that next jump partially due to injury. After having 7.5 sacks as a rookie, he’s totaled 9 sacks in his last 28 games.

This is a mutually beneficial relationship that’s unlikely to extend beyond the end of the year. Young is on a prove-it deal to see if he can jumpstart his career and bring some explosiveness to the New Orleans pass rush. Young should, at minimum, fit in the defensive line rotation for obvious passing situation sets.

This is a mutually beneficial relationship that’s unlikely to extend beyond the end of the year. Young is on a prove-it deal to see if he can jumpstart his career and bring some explosiveness to the New Orleans pass rush. Young should, at minimum, fit in the defensive line rotation for obvious passing situation sets.

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Formern Commanders DE James Smith-Williams signs with Falcons

Smith-Williams’ departure makes it official. The book on the 2020 NFL draft is closed in Washington.

In the latest free agent signings, James Smith-Williams has departed the Commanders to join the Falcons on a one-year deal.

Drafted in the seventh round (No. 229) in the 2020 draft by Washington, the former North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive end played four seasons for the Burgundy and Gold.

When Chase Young went down in 2021 with a season-ending knee injury, Smith-Williams noticeably improved the Commanders defense for the remainder of the season. His defense against the run proved to be a contributing factor to the team winning four consecutive games when he entered the lineup.

He started the last six games of that 2021 season, recording 30 tackles (11 solo, 19 assisted), including four for a loss, 2.5 quarterback sacks, and five additional QB hits.

Smith-Williams started 14 games in the 2022 season, contributing 23 tackles (12 solo, 11 assisted), including five tackles for a loss, three QB sacks and 16 QB hits.

In his final season (2023) in Washington, injuries limited him to 13 games (7 starts), 22 tackles (11 solo, 11 assists), two tackles for a loss, one quarterback sack, and eight quarterback hits.

Here are highlights from his last two Washington seasons.

When the 2024  free agent signing period launched in March, the Commanders new administration determined to sign Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Dante Fowler Jr. both defensive ends who had played for new head coach Dan Quinn in Dallas.

Then, the Commanders signed Clelin Ferrell, a former 49ers defensive end, whom new GM Adam Peters knew from his time as the assistant general manager in San Francisco.

The Commanders had also determined, this offseason, to re-sign Efe Obada over Smith-Williams. Obada has played both inside and outside on passing downs, accumulating 15 career sacks in his 74 NFL games played.

A couple of things are noteworthy. New Falcons free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins has the same agent as Smith-Williams (Priority Sports & Entertainment), and current Falcons assistant general manager Kyle Smith was with Washington and ran the draft board during the 2020 draft, Ron Rivera’s first with Washington.

Former Commanders LB Khaleke Hudson signs with Saints

Another member of Ron Rivera’s first draft class has a new home.

Another former Washington Commander has found a new home, as linebacker Khaleke Hudson signed with the New Orleans Saints on Thursday.

Hudson, a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, appeared in 58 games for the Commanders over four seasons, playing primarily on special teams. However, Hudson did start 12 games at linebacker, including eight last season. Hudson finished with 108 tackles in four seasons, including seven for loss and one sack.

Many believed Hudson would be a player that new head coach Dan Quinn would want to re-sign because of how hard he plays. But the Commanders went in another direction, adding Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner to start, and Anthony Pittman and Mykal Walker for depth. New safety Jeremy Chinn can also play linebacker in Quinn’s defense.

With Hudson signing with the Saints, that officially puts a bow on former head coach Ron Rivera’s first draft class. Chase Young — who also signed with the Saints this offseason — was traded last season. Antonio Gibson, Saahdiq Charles and Kam Curl all departed as free agents. Antonio Gandy-Golden and Keith Ismael have been gone, while James Smith-Williams remains unsigned.

Saints have more Washington 2020 draft picks than the Commanders do

There are more players from Washington’s 2020 draft class in New Orleans than on the Commanders’ roster. But they outnumber the Saints’ own 2020 draft picks, too:

Don’t look now, but the New Orleans Saints have rostered more players from the Washington Commanders’ 2020 draft class than Washington themselves. There isn’t a single player that the Commanders picked in 2020 remaining in Washington. Two of them landed with the Saints this offseason: defensive end Chase Young (a first-round pick) and linebacker Khaleke Kudson (a fifth rounder). The Times-Picayune | Advocate’s Matthew Paras, a former Washington beat writer, first shared this observation.

But here’s the twist. There are more players from Washington’s 2020 draft class now suiting up for the Saints than New Orleans’ own 2020 draft haul. The Saints went into the 2020 draft talking up a quality-over-quantity approach, trading up three times and coming away with just four players: right guard Cesar Ruiz, linebacker Zack Baun, tight end Adam Trautman, and quarterback-turned-tight end Tommy Stevens.

That plan blew up in their face. The Saints cut Stevens early in the season after initially stashing him on their practice squad. They traded Trautman during the 2023 draft (to the Denver Broncos, reuniting him with Sean Payton). Baun left in free agency last month to sign a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The only player remaining from that four-man band is Ruiz, who signed a contract extension last September.

So the Saints have two players from Washington’s 2020 draft class and just one of their own. That’s not the best of resources by either team. Regime change has already come for the Commanders (plus a change in ownership), and it might be on the way for New Orleans if the Saints miss the playoffs for the fourth year in a row and the third season with Dennis Allen as head coach. Hopefully they can turn things around, one way or another.

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Commanders to host Western Michigan DE Marshawn Kneeland on pre-draft visit

The Commanders bringing in another defender on a pre-draft visit.

The Washington Commanders have six picks in the first three rounds of this month’s 2024 NFL draft. While Washington is expected to take a quarterback at No. 2 overall, it must address other areas on the roster, too.

One of those positions is defensive end. The Commanders traded defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the trade deadline last fall and allowed backups Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams to depart via free agency.

Under new head coach Dan Quinn, Washington signed veterans Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler Jr. and Clelin Ferrell in free agency. They join a room that includes second-year edge rushers K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr.

With Ferrell and Fowler only signed to one-year deals, the Commanders could use some of their draft capital to address the position. One player Washington has shown interest in, according to NFL draft analyst Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, is Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland.

Pauline says Kneeland has 16 visits scheduled, with Washington being one of those visits.

Kneeland played in 37 career college games, and while he didn’t post eye-popping sack numbers, he was productive. A former high school tight end, Kneeland is athletic and is known more as a power rusher than a speed rusher.

The Commanders continue to focus on bringing in players on top-30 visits who have high-level traits. Kneeland is expected to be drafted on the second day of the draft.

 

Bucs appear happy to let division rivals overpay for veteran pass rushers

While their NFC South rivals have added some big names on paper, the Bucs are interested in better long-term investments

While many fans have been clamoring for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to add a marquee pass rusher in free agency, they’ve instead watched as two of the biggest names on the market have signed with other teams in the NFC South.

First, it was Chase Young signing a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints.

Now, it’s Jadeveon Clowney signing a two-year deal with the Carolina Panthers.

It’s unclear whether or not the Bucs were ever interested in either player, or perhaps simply unwilling to pay them what they eventually got from their division rivals. But instead of bring frustrated that household names like Young and Clowney will be facing the Bucs twice a year instead of wearing pewter, Tampa Bay fans should be glad they have a prudent front office that isn’t throwing money at name recognition that comes with age and durability questions.

Young is technically still in his prime, but he brings injury concerns that scared many teams off in free agency. Clowney had a stellar 2023 campaign for the Baltimore Ravens, but he just turned 31 years old, the same age as recently released Bucs pass rusher Shaq Barrett.

No, it looks like Bucs general manager Jason Licht and his crew are happy to go the younger and/or cheaper route, especially considering they have five picks in the first four rounds of the 2024 NFL draft.

Those moves might look good on paper for the Saints and Panthers, but it won’t be surprising if Tampa Bay playing the long game pays off in a more sustained way once the games actually start this fall and beyond.

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Bleacher Report says Chase Young picked the wrong team

Chase Young was the Saints’ biggest free agency signing, but Bleacher Report says he chose the wrong team:

Chase Young signing with the New Orleans Saints was the team’s biggest splash in free agency, but it didn’t come without some drawbacks. Young needing neck surgery has taken some of the shine away from the signing, however, he remains the biggest name they signed this offseason.

But there are some analysts still criticizing the move. Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay says it was a bad decision for both, and that Young picked the wrong team:

“Injuries have been a big part of the Ohio State product’s NFL story thus far and are already derailing the start of his tenure in the Big Easy. While he may have recovered from a career-altering ACL and patellar tendon tear he suffered in 2021, he recently underwent a neck procedure that will keep him sidelined during the leadup to the 2024 season.

Even if New Orleans felt Young is still capable of taking a leap this year, it likely wouldn’t be able to reap the benefits beyond the upcoming season and would struggle to afford his next contract.

The Saints are already projected to be a whopping $69 million over the 2025 salary cap and would be hard-pressed to fit a market-value deal in for Young if he performs at or above a level commensurate with his current pay.

Considering the team isn’t exactly a contender right now—especially with the NFC South race looking much tougher following Kirk Cousins’ decision to join the Atlanta Falcons—this signing doesn’t make sense and doesn’t really benefit either party.”

Kay comes to this conclusion even factoring Young’s neck surgery. Yes, Young is likely a one-year rental. It can be a Band-Aid until next year or maybe it’s security in case the Saints can’t get an edge rusher in the NFL draft. Projecting the future beyond this season for a player on a one year contract feels unfair. Maybe his tone will change when he realizes the contract isn’t fully guaranteed.

But Kay doesn’t explain how Young chose the wrong team, instead focusing on how the Saints chose the wrong player and contract. The Saints aren’t in a position to lay down and give up just because Kirk Cousins makes the NFC South more difficult. Nothing about how the Saints have constructed their roster says to give up on 2024. They aren’t Super Bowl contenders, but they remain in the divisional race. Chase Young was signed to put the best quality on the field this year which is always the goal.

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