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Originally Posted by skinsfaninok
That was the worst signing in FA.. WTF is N.O Doing???
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The Saints need an intervention. Their affinity for shopping is out of control, and it is saddling poor New Orleans fans year after year after year with a team that might win nine games but has next to no shot at winning the Super Bowl. And every time the Saints make another ill-advised signing -- at this point, they are pretty much all ill-advised -- they kick the mediocrity-at-best can down the road once again.
As of this writing, before Young's deal hits the books, the Saints are $11 million over the 2025 cap -- and only $48 million under the 2026 cap. And that was before this deal, which presumably will be light in 2025 (and therefore more expensive in 2026 and beyond).
It doesn't really matter what you think of Young. I think he's not bad! He isn't even 26 yet! Once it became clear he was never going to be the player he was promised to be when he was the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft, he settled into a role that will be useful for seasons to come. He isn't a star but can rush the passer a little, and that's worth something.
But again, it doesn't matter in this situation. Since the Saints constantly push themselves so close to the limit of what they can spend, they end up facing brutal choices like they had this offseason: Do they spend millions more on someone such as quarterback Derek Carr to make it easier for them to be cap compliant now (but harder later)?
This transaction is another example of that. As my colleague Katherine Terrell points out, the Saints would have had $9 million in dead cap had Young's contract voided on Wednesday. Instead, they will kick that can down the road too. Time and again, the Saints fail to take the obvious team-building action: Tear it down, trade away their veterans, stop spending. Then regroup, with assets, to make a real run at it. The Saints ought to have an ability to think beyond the season directly in front of them. And yet, they're here again.
Which brings us back to Young. As compared to the rest of the league, $17 million is not an expensive deal for an edge rusher of Young's caliber (and that's the only thing saving this grade from being an F). But when compared to Monday's edge rusher transactions, it's a bit expensive. Josh Sweat agreed to a contract of only $19 million per year, while Khalil Mack's deal netted $18 million and Haason Reddick's deal was for $14 million. But perhaps the edge market corrects next year and the Saints can flip Young's contract for a profit.
But there should be no lauding what the Saints did here, because they are doing what they always do -- spending future money when they shouldn't.