NFL fans roasted the Saints for giving Chase Young $13 million despite knowing he needed neck surgery
For years now, the New Orleans Saints have become synonymous with NFL salary cap hell. In fact, before the 2024 free agency period, New Orleans was negative $17 million in cap space. It is slightly better now, per Over The Cap, but that’s not a high bar to clear. And after forgoing the bill of the Drew Brees era for years, general manager Mickey Loomis has shown he’s learned nothing.
On Tuesday afternoon, former No. 2 overall pick defensive end Chase Young officially signed his one-year, $13 million contract (fully guaranteed) with the Saints. At face value, the news is innocuous. Injuries have derailed Young’s potential, but he remains a big name that could potentially help a team like New Orleans. Ah, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed a crucial caveat.
Young is actually undergoing a neck surgery that will sideline him into training camp. Oh, that seems really bad for a guy who’s already had some devastating knee injuries in the past. Poor Saints, right?
No, no, dearest readers.
You see, the Saints knew Young had this serious neck issue and gave him $13 million guaranteed anyway. Oh, come on!
Far be it from me to question the evaluation of a professional medical staff. Still, it boggles the mind that the usually salary-cap-strapped Saints think signing Young — after what sounds like another serious injury recovery — is a good idea. They just left cap hell, and with questionable deals like this, seemingly want to sign a death warrant to promptly return.
One thing’s for sure: I would probably never trust Mickey Loomis to quickly return $20 that I let him borrow.