New Orleans’ veteran leader is excited to take on a new role following the addition of a former first-round choice to his team’s edge-rushing roster.
Due to a dearth of salary cap room this offseason, the New Orleans Saints mostly sought bargains in free agency. Only wide receiver Cedrick Wilson won a multi-year contract among New Orleans’ dozen additions, with only two players earning more over $3 million in one-year deals.
One of those was Willie Gay Jr., a former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker. The other is defensive end Chase Young, whom Saints’ longtime veteran leader Cameron Jordan predicted would combine with sixth-year player Carl Granderson to form a fearsome combination during an appearance on the final episode of NFL Total Access last Friday evening.
Despite being close to the salary cap, New Orleans paid up for Young, giving him a fully guaranteed $13 million contract for the 2024 season. The former No. 2 overall pick with 7.5 sacks in a 2023 season split between the Washington Commanders and the San Francisco 49ers. That number matched his career high from the 2020 season, when he won Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Jordan, who is about to turn 35, is only 5.5 sacks behind Rickey Jackson (123.0) for the most quarterback takedowns in Saints history. He certainly expected to overtake Jackson in 2023, but the paucity of pass-rushing threats surrounding him allowed opponents to focus on him every week. His two sacks were his career’s second-lowest total, trailing just his debut season in 2011 (1.0).
Last season, New Orleans placed in the bottom six in practically every quarterback pressure category. Despite their troubles, they did not recruit any pass rushers in the NFL Draft or free agency other than Young, which means he will have to play and produce significantly alongside Jordan and Granderson next year if the team is to improve in that area.
Unsurprisingly, the Saints’ eight-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro defender is willing to change his approach to accommodate Young’s presence. He promised the Total Access crew that he would do everything it took to ensure that he, Young, and Granderson could all be on the pitch at the same time during the most important moments.
New Orleans disappointed by finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs last season. If their pass rush improves enough, they may be able to overtake the reigning division champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and previous division champion Atlanta Falcons for the NFC South playoff spot in 2024.
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