NFL Analysis
10/30/24
6 min read
4 Trade Ideas For New Orleans Saints Pass Rusher Chase Young
It's been a busy few weeks around the NFL with trades, and now that the trade deadline is almost here, New Orleans Saints pass rusher Chase Young is one of the top remaining veterans who could be available.
The Saints have bottomed out after a promising start, going 2-6 with six straight losses. Meanwhile, their financial situation for 2025 and beyond is so bad that they're projected to be over the cap by $72.8 million for next season.
Instead of continuing to push the can down the road, the Saints need to start taking their medicine and accumulate draft picks while parting ways with established veterans. Young isn't under contract in 2025, but trading him would start the rebuild process by getting a draft pick or two and embracing the tank this year.
Young is still just 25 years old and continues to be a productive pass rusher. According to Pro Football Focus, he's already generated 30 pressures this season to go along with 12 defensive stops.
Plenty of teams could use Young's services, and if the Saints are willing to listen to calls for him, there's a strong chance that he gets moved before the deadline.
Chase Young Trade Packages
Green Bay Packers 
Packers receive: EDGE Chase Young
Saints receive: 2025 fifth-round pick
The Green Bay Packers' defense looks significantly different under Jeff Hafley, but it still lacks consistent pass-rushing juice.
Rashan Gary is off to a slow start, although he's started to turn things around in recent weeks. After creating just six pressures in the first five games, he's racked up 12 pressures in the last three.
However, the Packers don't have another consistent pass rusher at EDGE. Per PFF, the next highest EDGE in pressures is Kingsley Enagbare's 10.
Young could provide an immediate boost to Hafley's defense on third downs. Plus, the two already worked together during their time at Ohio State, when Hafley was the Buckeyes' defensive coordinator.
Detroit Lions
Lions receive: EDGE Chase Young
Saints receive: 2025 fourth-round pick
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell seemed awfully excited when asked whether or not his team was going to make a move at the trade deadline earlier this week.
Dan Campbell smirking and jumping(!) at his press conference.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) October 28, 2024
He was asked if a trade for a pass rusher is imminent. “Could be!” he said. 😏🤣 pic.twitter.com/OwuzXXBB1Y
Could that be because a trade is already in place? The Lions' defense lost its most dominant player when Aidan Hutchinson broke his leg against the Dallas Cowboys. Despite missing the last two games, Hutchinson still has more than twice the number of pressures as the next closer defender on the defense.
A consistent pass rusher should be at the top of Detroit's wish list at the trade deadline. There are other options out there, like Azeez Ojulari and Za'Darius Smith, but Young could be an exciting addition, even if the state of Michigan might give him a hard time for going to Ohio State.
Given how late in the order Detroit's draft picks are likely to be, combined with the urgency of their need, Brad Holmes might be willing to give out a fourth-round pick to ensure he wins a potential bidding war for Young's services.
Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers receive: EDGE Chase Young
Saints receive: 2025 fifth-round pick
What's more fitting than Young going to the Los Angeles Chargers to play with his former college rival's head coach, Jim Harbaugh?
The Chargers already have iconic pass rushers like Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, but the team, as a whole, still isn't getting the job done. They currently rank 28th in pass rush win rate and are in the middle of the pack with 18 sacks on the year.
Depth at EDGE is one way to keep guys fresh and consistently put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Chargers will likely need that kind of depth to keep Bosa healthy for the rest of the season. After missing multiple games with a hip injury, he appeared to aggravate the injury again in last week's game.
This was the final snap Joey Bosa played yesterday, late in the third quarter. He had missed more than a month with a left hip injury before Saints game. Appeared to tweak something on this play.
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) October 28, 2024
Jim Harbaugh a few mins ago: "I did not hear that he aggravated his hip." pic.twitter.com/I0roQzYknE
The Chargers may not win the AFC West, but at 4-3, they have a 76 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to The Athletic's playoff projections model. They have enough talent to be competitive, and another pass rusher could give their defense a leg up once the playoffs begin.
Young would also get the opportunity to reunite with a former college teammate, J.K. Dobbins, who is experiencing a breakout year after struggling to stay healthy during the last few seasons.
Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals receive: EDGE Chase Young, 2026 sixth-round pick
Saints receive: Conditional 2025 fifth-round pick
Plenty of fanbases would welcome Young in a trade with open arms, but an Ohio-based team like the Cincinnati Bengals would be outright ecstatic to get a former Buckeyes great.
Trey Hendrickson has completely carried the Bengals' pass rush through the first eight games of the season. According to Pro Football Focus, his 37 pressures account for 31 percent of the team's pass rush success, with Sam Hubbard and B.J. Hill tied for second with 12 pressures each.
Additional pass-rush help could do wonders for a struggling Bengals defense that still has a lot of talent on its roster. They rank just 18th in pass rush win rate and a lowly 25th in total defensive DVOA.
Pressure on opposing quarterbacks can compensate for many issues on a defense, and the Bengals have enough offensive firepower to force opponents to continue passing the ball. A Hendrickson-Young duo on third downs could make things much harder for offensive lines to plan for with their pass protection.
At 3-5, the Bengals need some kind of difference-maker to fight their way back into a playoff spot. A short-term rental on a veteran like Young could be the right kind of player to make that happen.
