The San Francisco 49ers were in the conversation to re-sign Chase Young after the 2023 season, but he ultimately decided to sign with the New Orleans Saints.
Chase Young was traded from the Washington Commanders to the San Francisco 49ers for a third-round compensatory pick during the 2023 season. He ended up starting opposite Nick Bosa and played a role in the 49ers’ run to the Super Bowl.
The 49ers discussed a possible extension or re-sign with Young, but it never happened. Instead, he tested free agency and ended up with the Saints.
San Francisco Upgrades at End Without
San Francisco went another direction when talks with Young went stale. The 49ers signed eight-year NFL veteran Leonard Floyd to a two-year contract.
Floyd started his career with the Bears, then went to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Rams for a three-year stint, then played for the Bills this past year.
Floyd has become a journeyman in the NFL but has added to any defense he has been on. He has 58 career sacks, four forced fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries.
Comparing Young to Floyd
Chase Young has played in 43 career NFL games. His first and last seasons, 2020 & 2023, respectively, are the only season he played more than ten games. He has 16.5 career sacks, six forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
Floyd has played in 121 total games. In his first two seasons with the Bears, he missed a few games for the Bears, but in his last six seasons, he has not missed a game. As stated above, he has 58 career sacks, four forced fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries.
Young’s contract looks to be one year for $13 million guaranteed. The entire agreement is fully guaranteed.
On the other hand, Floyd signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the 49ers, including $12 million guaranteed and an average annual salary of $10 million. In 2024, Floyd will earn $10 million while carrying a cap hit of about $4 million (not disclosed yet). NFL contract specifics are generally collected from verified reports.
Credit: Getty Images
Although Chase is younger than Leonard, with Chase’s injury risk and his lack of production, it is easy to see that Floyd might be a significant addition to the 49ers defense. Floyd’s contract is a bonus, with less guaranteed money over a longer span.
Both defensive ends have an opportunity to show their skills on new teams, and they will undoubtedly be compared throughout the 2024 season.
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