2025 Chicago Bears Free Agent Target: Chase Young

Vincent Carchietta - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 16 hours ago

Nothing can become official until the NFL New Year begins on March 12. That hasn't stopped the Bears from being one of the most, if not the most, active teams in the early part of the offseason, as they acquired guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney for a pair of day three picks.

Adding offensive line help has been a priority for Ryan Poles since he took over as the Bears GM, but this is the first time in his tenure that you can see that priority shining through. Adding offensive line help is something the Bears needed to do, but that is just one of the gaping holes on this team, and the Bears are just getting started.

The other glaring weakness is on the other side of the ball, where the Bears once again had one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL. Given the QB talent in the NFC North and around the NFL, for that matter, the Bears know they need to address their pass-rushing issues if they want to become a top-10 defense again.

That is where New Orleans Saints Edge rusher Chase Young comes into play as he is once again a free agent and is starting to gain some connections to the Bears. The former No. 2 overall selection by the Washington Commanders, Young has had an up-and-down career, but it has been the past few seasons that raise question marks.

This past season, Young racked up just 5.5 sacks for the Saints defense despite playing in all 17 games. That gives him 22 career sacks across 60 games, which isn't much when you think about where he was drafted. After registering 7.5 sacks as a rookie, many people felt he could be the next great pass rusher ready to take the league by storm.

Instead, Young has only reached 7.5 sacks twice in his career, with last season's total being the second-highest output. That lack of production doesn't bode well when you are the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft, but Young is one of those guys who has been plagued by injuries, so his durability will always be a question.

When healthy, Young has shown the ability to be a game-changing player, but those days seem to be well in the rearview. His best days came as a member of the Commanders when he was paired with Montez Sweat for several seasons. The two of them wreaked havoc on opposing defenses. Still, once Sweat was traded to Chicago, Young became a liability at best as his overall production took a significant hit due to not having a running mate alongside him.

That alone is why many fans would love to pass on this signing. He is no longer the player he once was, and many are wondering if he can ever get back to that level. However, if he is going to command the 14 million dollar price tag he is asking for, Young better produce. It would be a colossal bust should he not at least get up to seven sacks per season.

Hearing Young's name pop up with the Bears may seem like a surprise, but it shouldn't shock you, as he did hear his name linked to Chicago the past two seasons. That started during the 2023 trade deadline until Sweat was grabbed, but then those talks intensified during the offseason before he wound up signing with the Saints.

A free agent again, look for those talks to pick up this offseason as the Bears know they need to address the pass rush on defense. Even if Young never materializes into a top-level talent that many expected him to be, his addition would make the Bears defense better, which is all you can ask.

He may not get the sacks you're hoping for, but he could pick up 6-8 sacks per season, as Sweat, and he would make for a great combo. Keep an eye on his name throughout the first wave of free agency, as he could be the first of many talented players to sign with a new team and will set the market.