No current Washington Commanders players appeared on ESPN’s midseason NFL All-Pro team or midseason awards lists, but several former players received recognition. Among them was Chase Young, the Commanders’ second overall pick in 2020, who was named to the midseason All-Pro team by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell.
Through eight games with the New Orleans Saints, Young has recorded 8.0 sacks, five tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, four pass deflections, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He had a career-high 10.0 sacks in 12 games for New Orleans in 2025, following a five-sack season in 2024. That year, he appeared in all 17 regular-season games for the first time in his career but did not make a start.
“I never felt like somebody could block me,” Young told NOF Network on November 12. “My first year with the Saints, when I was top ten in pressures, I wasn’t landing the sacks, but I was winning.”
Young was one of two prominent edge rushers Washington traded during the 2023 season. The Commanders sent him to the San Francisco 49ers and traded Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears.
## Chase Young’s Next Contract Could Be a Major Decision
Young signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Saints in March 2025. His next deal could become an important decision for New Orleans, particularly if he continues producing at a high level.
After Young posted a career-best 10 sacks in 12 games in 2025, his contract runs through 2027. A strong start to the 2026 season could give the Saints reason to consider an extension before he reaches the end of his deal.
## Young’s Rise and Setback in Washington
Young made an immediate impact in the NFL, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year and helping Washington reach the playoffs in 2020. He finished his rookie season with 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, four pass deflections and a defensive touchdown.
His progress stalled after he tore his ACL in Week 10 of the 2021 season. Young missed 22 of the next 25 regular-season games, including all but three games in 2022, and recorded just 1.5 sacks across those two seasons.
He began rebuilding his career in 2023, finishing with 7.5 sacks while playing for Washington and San Francisco after the midseason trade. Young then served as a role player as the 49ers advanced to the Super Bowl.
Young signed a one-year, $13 million contract with New Orleans in 2024 before agreeing to his three-year, $51 million deal ahead of the 2025 season.
