Chase Young Is Giving the Saints Exactly What They Need

At 2-5, the New Orleans Saints have plenty to evaluate during their Week 8 bye. The running game needs fixing, the offense needs more consistency and the coaching staff has to figure out how to turn competitive stretches into victories.

But there is one area that shouldn't require much debate: Chase Young is playing some serious football.

While New Orleans' record has provided more frustration than celebration, Chase Young has quietly developed into one of the Saints' most dependable defensive players. Through seven games, Young has recorded seven sacks, already putting him within striking distance of the 10 sacks he produced for New Orleans in 2025. 

The Saints entered the bye talking about evaluating everything. When they turn on Young's film, the conversation should be considerably simpler.

Keep letting No. 99 hunt quarterbacks.

Young's production isn't coming from one monster afternoon padding his season totals. He's getting to quarterbacks consistently.

Young recorded 1.5 sacks against Baltimore in Week 2, two against Las Vegas in Week 3, a half-sack against Minnesota and 1.5 sacks in consecutive games against the Giants and Steelers. 

That's seven sacks in seven games. Even more impressive, the Saints noted after Sunday's 16-10 loss to Pittsburgh that Young now has 16.5 sacks over his past 17 games. 

That's no longer a hot streak. That's production.

Young entered the NFL carrying enormous expectations after Washington selected him No. 2 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Injuries and inconsistency changed the conversation around him during his early career, but what we're seeing in New Orleans looks like a player who has settled into exactly what he does best.

Attack.

New Orleans didn't get the result it wanted in France, but Young did his part.

He and Carl Granderson each recorded 1.5 sacks of Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers finished 19 of 30 for 212 yards and one touchdown in Pittsburgh's 16-10 victory. 

The Saints held the Steelers to 16 points. That's normally enough defensive work to give an NFL team a legitimate opportunity to win.

Unfortunately, New Orleans' offense rushed for only 18 yards, committed a costly red-zone turnover and scored just 10 points. 

That's why I don't believe Sunday's loss should overshadow what Young is doing. A pass rusher can't fix an offense. His job is to make quarterbacks uncomfortable, disrupt drives and create negative plays. Young is doing that.

There's also a larger organizational point here. Give Young more opportunities to rush without worrying about the run and his impact could become even greater.

At 2-5, the Saints have to evaluate which players should remain foundational pieces moving forward.

Young is 27 years old. He's in his seventh NFL season, but he isn't approaching the end of his career. His Saints trajectory is also moving in the right direction.

Young recorded 5.5 sacks in 2024, increased that total to a career-high 10 in 2025 and already has seven this season. 

That's the kind of progression New Orleans needs from players entering their prime. If you're building a defense, productive edge rushers are exactly the players you want around.

There aren't many things Saints fans should feel completely satisfied about during a 2-5 start. Chase Young is one of them.

He isn't going to fix the running game. He isn't going to eliminate Tyler Shough's growing pains, and he can't magically turn close losses into victories. But Young can control what happens when he lines up across from an offensive tackle.

Right now, he's winning those battles. Seven sacks through seven games. Six sacks over his past five games. And 16.5 sacks across his past 17 appearances. 

The Saints will spend this bye examining what's broken. They should also recognize what's working. Chase Young is working.

And when New Orleans returns Nov. 8 against Cleveland, the Saints need to keep putting their hottest defensive player in position to do what he's been doing all season:

Going after the quarterback.