The New Orleans Saints are off to a 1-2 start in the 2026 season, but it's not due to a lack of pressure from their star pass-rusher.
Through three games, Chase Young ranks No. 4 in the NFL with 3.5 sacks (despite losing a controversial one in Detroit) and has been credited with 15 pressures. He's doing this in Year 2 of the 3 year, $51 million contract signed ahead of the 2025 season, and while the Saints have time before they have to worry about paying their start edge rusher again, Deuce McAllister said on SportsTalk this week that they shouldn't plan to wait around.
"Look, New Orleans Saints, I cannot tell you how to run your business," McAllister says, "but I can tell you it would probably be in your best interest that if what we see currently persists for another 4, 5, 6, maybe 7 weeks … I would advise somebody in upper management probably to have a little conversation with him and his agency to see if we can get some advance talks going.”
The numbers certainly would back that up, and they also display that whenever a new deal does get done, it won't come cheap. Young's current average annual contract value is tied for 22nd with Steelers OLB Alex Highsmith. Here's where he ranks in QB pressures among defensive linemen on non-rookie contracts (total pressures in parentheses):
- Aidan Hutchinson, Lions (20): 4/$180M ($45M APY)
- Will Anderson, Texans (20): 3/$150M ($50M APY)
- Trey Hendrickson, Ravens (17): 4/$112M ($28M APY)
- Greg Rousseau, Bills (17): 4/$80M ($20M APY)
- Jeffery Simmons, Titans (15): 3/$105M ($35M APY)
- Maxx Crosby, Raiders (15) 3/$106M ($35M APY)
- Chase Young, Saints (15): 3/$51M ($17M APY)
- Boye Mafe, Bengals (15): 3/$60M ($20M APY)
- Gervon Dexter, Falcons (15): 4/$78M ($19.5M APY)
- Travon Walker, Jaguars (14): 4/$110M ($27.5M APY)
Among the players on that list, Young is the only one making below $19.5M per season. Based on production, a new contract would likely cost well over $30M per season. The Saints already handed out their first non-QB contract in that range earlier this offseason when they agreed to terms on a 4-year, $124M contract with star WR Chris Olave.
"From a financial standpoint," Deuce continues, "it would make a lot of sense to start having that conversation if the production is still there.”
In the end, whatever a new contract ultimately costs would represent a win for the Saints, considering the gamble they took in brining in Young ahead of the 2024 season. The former No. 2 overall pick had been traded by Washington midseason and then allowed to walk by the 49ers in free agency after a Super Bowl run. He had to undergo offseason neck surgery and landed in New Orleans on a 1-year, $13 million deal laden with incentives. He appeared in all 17 games and was rewarded in the offseason with a 3-year extension. Despite missing the first five games of the 2025 season due to a calf injury, Young logged a career high 10 sacks over the final 12 games.
If he can stay healthy this year, he's primed to blow past that mark and could even push the Saints single-season franchise record of 17 (Pat Swilling and La'Roi Glover). Young has also blossomed into a leadership role in New Orleans, having been voted a team captain in 2026.
“He’s already shown you that he wants to be here. … It’s not a true homegrown, but it’s been a pretty good fit and a pretty good deal for him," Deuce said.
The Saints (1-2) will next be in action when they host the Atlanta Falcons (1-2) at the Caesars Superdome for Monday Night Football. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.
