As every NFL staff is formally in offseason mode, all the things is on the desk relating to the sorts of strikes groups may make to succeed in the Tremendous Bowl subsequent 12 months. For the Bucs, that focus can be centered round how they’ll construct up the protection, particularly from a pass-rushing standpoint.
Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, and Trey Hendrickson are among the many names being floated about as being on the commerce block and in numerous hypotheticals, whereas the free agent market is headlined by Khalil Mack, Haason Reddick, and Tremendous Bowl LIX star Josh Sweat. Every of them would add a high-profile, top-tier veteran into the combination, there may be an alternative choice available on the market who – whereas as soon as high-profile – now could be extra of a bounce again candidate.
Defensive finish Chase Younger.
Younger, the second total choose by the then-Washington Soccer Workforce in 2020, spent the previous season with the Saints and can be searching for a brand new house. With the Bucs needing gamers who can get after the quarterback, he’s somebody who may flourish and get his profession again on monitor in Tampa Bay.
Chase Younger As soon as Appeared To Be A Celebrity Move Rusher
Former Bucs QB Tom Brady and Saints DE Chase Younger – Picture by: USA Immediately
Earlier than the 2020 NFL Draft, Chase Younger was in comparison with Corridor of Famer Julius Peppers and seen as a perennial All-Professional prospect. This was for good purpose, as Younger was coming off a 16.5-sack, seven-forced fumble season at Ohio State. Younger then hit the bottom operating within the NFL as a defensive finish who regarded each bit like a participant set to have an extended profession stuffed with accolades forward of him.
Younger made the Professional Bowl in his rookie 12 months and was named NFL AP Defensive Rookie of the Yr. For context, Bucs security Antoine Winfield Jr. obtained one vote and completed fourth that 12 months. With the 6-foot-5, 265-pound cross rusher main a Washington protection that includes Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, and Daron Payne, issues appeared vivid for them upfront for a very long time.
Then, Younger’s profession started to spiral when he performed the Bucs in Week 10 of the 2021 season.
Saints DE Chase Younger and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes – Picture by: USA Immediately
In that sport, he tore his ACL and Patellar Tendon, which led to a protracted restoration time. Younger would solely play the final three video games of the 2022 season and didn’t file a sack. After enjoying in seven video games and recording 5 sacks with the Commanders in 2023, they dealt him to the 49ers for a third-round choose. He grew to become extra of a rotational defensive lineman in San Francisco and determined to wager on himself final offseason signing a one-year, $13 million take care of the Saints.
A day after placing pen to paper, it was introduced that he would bear neck surgical procedure and missed a part of coaching camp. Whereas it was a priority on the time, he performed all 17 video games in 2024. Younger didn’t get again to the heights he reached as a rookie, recording 31 complete tackles, 21 quarterback hits, eight tackles for a loss, and 5.5 sacks.
The underlying metrics result in a unique takeaway, although.
His quarterback hits level to him being near having extra sacks, as did his 66 pressures, which ranked 14th within the league (tied with Josh Sweat). Does this level to the 25-year-old nonetheless possessing the expertise to get to double-digit sacks in 2025 and past?
Signing Chase Younger Comes With Threat, However The Reward May Be Enormous
Bucs GM Jason Licht – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
It’s no secret that the Bucs wish to make one other Shaq Barrett-level signing to the protection.
After signing a one-year deal in 2019, Barrett rewarded Tampa Bay with 19.5 sacks and parlayed that into an even bigger deal the next offseason. Whereas some names come to thoughts as the subsequent diamond-in-the-rough addition by normal supervisor Jason Licht, Chase Younger has already proven he’s a diamond, only one that wants some touching up.
For somebody of Younger’s pedigree, he would include a lower cost tag than Khalil Mack and Josh Sweat, and extra in keeping with a possible Haason Reddick contract. Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo forecasts a three-year, $45 million deal for Younger, a median of $15 million per 12 months. On a one-year deal at the same worth level, it could not be a nasty approach to make investments funds if Tampa Bay loses out on different targets.
Professional Soccer Focus even related him as a Bucs match final month because the one free agent they need to pursue.
Regardless of Tampa Bay’s offensive ascension in 2024, its protection lagged — particularly in cross rush, the place the Buccaneers positioned twenty first in staff PFF pass-rushing grade. Upgrading at each edge rusher and inside defender is to ensure that normal supervisor Jason Licht.
Throughout his one-year stint in New Orleans, Younger was phenomenal as a pass-rusher, rating 14th amongst qualifying edge rushers with a 13.7% pass-rush win fee whereas racking up 66 pressures. He’s struggled as a tackler recently, ending with a missed sort out fee above 20% in every of the previous three years, which might seemingly decrease his price ticket. However by way of pure pass-rush potential and upside, the 25-year-old might be a steal for a staff like Tampa Bay, which might accomplice him with the burgeoning Yaya Diaby.
How Would Chase Younger Match With The Bucs?
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Within the land of hypotheticals this time of 12 months, let’s say Chase Younger indicators with the Bucs subsequent month in free company. In head coach Todd Bowles’ 3-4 protection, Younger would line up as an outdoor linebacker versus being the defensive finish he has been all through his NFL profession in 4-3 defenses. That may take some adjusting for him, however he has the scale and velocity to be an element paired with Yaya Diaby.
Plugging him in as a starter presents extra upside than each different possibility Bowles had at exterior linebacker final 12 months. Diaby and Younger paired collectively increase the ground of the surface cross rush, as each apply numerous stress on opposing quarterbacks. Bringing him in doesn’t rule out one other exterior addition, nor ought to it deter Tampa Bay from permitting 2024 second-round choose Chris Braswell from seeing the sphere extra.
Signing Chase Younger would add somebody with a chip on their shoulder who certainly needs to make up for misplaced time and rebuild the popularity he as soon as had as one of many sport’s subsequent elite cross rushers. It’s a big gamble, however one Jason Licht ought to think about taking.
