{"id":133335,"date":"2026-01-02T16:18:52","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T16:18:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=133335"},"modified":"2026-01-02T16:18:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T16:18:52","slug":"%f0%9f%94%a5-game-changer-chase-young-proving-the-ridiculed-saints-contract-was-a-steal-could-this-be-the-move-that-redefines-new-orleans-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=133335","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udd25 GAME CHANGER: Chase Young Proving the Ridiculed Saints Contract Was a Steal! Could This Be the Move That Redefines New Orleans&#8217; Defense?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mb-0 md:mb-9 relative md:mx-10 md:mb-9\">\n<figure>\n<div class=\"overflow-hidden bg-lightGrey\"><picture><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"undefined w-full\" title=\"NFL: DEC 28 Saints at Titans\" src=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2641,h_1485\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/GettyImages\/mmsport\/15\/01kdyn4m9n9jwe2msbe3.jpg\" alt=\"NFL: DEC 28 Saints at Titans\" width=\"2641\" height=\"1485\" data-uw-rm-alt-original=\"NFL: DEC 28 Saints at Titans\" data-uw-rm-alt=\"ALT\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex items-center gap-4 ml-1 pb-2 mt-4 md:m-3 text-darkGrey font-group-tiny\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center gap-4 ml-1 pb-2 mt-4 md:m-3 text-darkGrey font-group-tiny\"><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>NFL: DEC 28 Saints at Titans | Icon Sportswire\/GettyImages<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"flex flex-wrap justify-center lg:justify-normal md:mx-10\">\n<div class=\"flex lg:pr-8 lg:w-[calc(100%-300px)] max-w-full\"><main class=\"min-w-0 flex-1 odesa-article-main\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"viewablity-block\">\n<figure class=\"player-wrapper relative aspect-video mb-[18px] bg-grey rounded-md hidden player-wrapper-lg md:block\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"article-content [&amp;_p]:leading-[30px] [&amp;_p]:md:leading-[28px] [&amp;_li]:leading-[30px] [&amp;_li]:md:leading-[28px]\">\n<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">New Orleans Saints edge rusher Chase Young recorded a sack in the Saints 34-26 victory over the Tennessee Titans, pushing his season total to 8.5.\u00a0\u00a0The sack gave Young a new career high, surpassing his previous best of 7.5 sacks in a single season.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">Young reached the mark in just 11 games, needing significantly fewer contests than in previous seasons to set a new personal best.\u00a0\u00a0His production reflects a consistent pass rush presence and improved efficiency, as he has been able to generate pressure and finish plays at a high rate while anchoring the Saints edge defense.<\/p>\n<div id=\"inarticle_d_1_4\" class=\"img_kfpvppaha5agvabahrav6abrx6ab\">\n<div id=\"inarticle_d_1_4_slot0\" data-gpid=\"23162276296\/fansided\/nfl\/whodatdish.com\/inarticle_d_1\" data-google-query-id=\"CLDijYSU7ZEDFeRgDwIdZKYuEg\">\n<div id=\"img_kfpvr4vvr4agrxrc9da5rcrwc89prxrcr3irjrbr3r3qrbr3nrba1c96a5rwdrxda16caga1rnsvd9abdrwa5sa2ravpa1rw698abrwraagrxrcdrcawrcrcrav6ab9rw6rx8rcrc\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_859,w_5226,h_2939\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/15\/01kdngem5hwcj0xmhwk0.jpg\" alt=\"New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">Coming into the season there were questions surrounding whether Young\u2019s contract would ultimately prove to be worth the investment, as he struggled to turn pressures into sacks.\u00a0\u00a0However, Young has shut down the skepticism with a strong campaign, emerging as a disruptive force off the edge and delivering consistent impact plays.\u00a0Young&#8217;s pass rush presence have helped validate the Saints decision, showing that he can produce at a high level and play a key role in the defenses success.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-uw-rm-heading=\"hide\"><strong>Chase Young making the Saints look like geniuses for their investment<\/strong><span class=\"data-uw-rm-autofix-hide\" data-uw-reader-element=\"\" data-uw-rm-ignore=\"\">Empty heading<\/span><\/h2>\n<p id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">With one game remaining, Young now has a chance to finish the season on a high note and push his breakout year even further.\u00a0\u00a0Double digit sacks are close within reach and another strong performance would cap what has already been an impressive season under a three year $51 million deal.\u00a0\u00a0His production and impact have made the contract look like a smart investment on the first year, setting a positive tone for both is future and the Saints defense moving forward.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">Young\u2019s sack that set his new career high was a memorable one and an instant highlight.\u00a0\u00a0Beating his blocker off the right edge, Young stripped Cam Ward and snatched the loose ball for a touchdown, providing a huge momentum swing.\u00a0\u00a0The play pulled the Saints within three points late in the second quarter and showcased Young\u2019s explosiveness and game changing ability off the edge.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\">Had Young been available for the entire season, his sack total and overall impact could\u2019ve been even greater putting him in conversations for the Pro Bowl and possibly All Pro, emphasizing how dominant he has been when on the field.\u00a0\u00a0That potential only adds to the excitement surrounding what he can accomplish moving forward.<\/p>\n<div id=\"inarticle_d_1_6\" class=\"img_kfpvppaha5agvabahrav6abrx6ab\">\n<div id=\"inarticle_d_1_6_slot0\" data-gpid=\"23162276296\/fansided\/nfl\/whodatdish.com\/inarticle_d_3\" data-google-query-id=\"CJ6_sIWU7ZEDFQWBVgEdgS0Q7A\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/main><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NFL: DEC 28 Saints at Titans | Icon Sportswire\/GettyImages New Orleans Saints edge rusher Chase Young recorded a sack in the Saints 34-26 victory over the Tennessee&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":133405,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-133335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>\ud83d\udd25 GAME CHANGER: Chase Young Proving the Ridiculed Saints Contract Was a Steal! 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