Saints longtime defender says new addition 'is going to be great'

Defensive end Chase Young has simply not been the same player he was when he was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020.

Much of his decline in play has been chalked up to him tearing his ACL and patellar tendon late in his second season, but one of his new teammates believes he's in store for big things this year.

Defensive end Cameron Jordan, who is entering his 14th season in the league, thinks Young is going to bring another element to New Orleans' defense.

"I think Chase Young is going to be great for our defense," Jordan said on NFL Network. "We already got Carl Granderson, who's stellar these last couple of years. ... He's going to be another piece we can add on."

Young's biggest knock has been his inability to stay healthy, but he was able to do just that last season, showing flashes of what he could be bringing to the Saints. The former No. 2 overall pick registered 25 tackles, 7.5 sacks and two passes defensed in 16 games with the Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers, who acquired him at the trade deadline.

However, Young's health is in question once again after it was announced that he was undergoing neck surgery in March.

The procedure will likely cause him to miss part of training camp, but Jordan can't stop thinking about what Young will bring once he's fully healthy.

"At some point in my mind, I'm spinning like it's going to be me, Chase and Carl Granderson on the field at the same time on a crucial third down and I'm probably going to have to go in the middle," Jordan added. "I don't care. Whatever it takes. ... I think it adds another weapon to our defense."

Only time will tell if Young can regain his rookie form, but time is on his side as he just turned 25 last month.