The New Orleans Saints’ promising season was cut short by injuries, and Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report thinks the team may trade outstanding pass rusher Chase Young. Young, the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, was selected to the Pro Bowl and won Defensive Rookie of the Year to start what was expected to be a Hall of Fame career. He had to sign a one-year, prove-it contract with the Saints as a free agency after a string of injuries kept him from playing to his full potential. Young has a 55.7 PFF grade and 1.5 sacks in seven games with his new team.

The ruined Saints have no need to keep him on the roster now that he is expected to be available on the open market. Young is still a gifted athlete who might succeed in a situational position, even though he probably won’t ever live up to his pre-draft reputation as a top pass-rushing prospect. The Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens seem like the most likely destinations when looking at the league.

Additionally, New Orleans might have to use rookie contracts and budget contracts if it starts to rebuild in 2025. It is anticipated that the Saints will exceed the cap by $97.6 million in the upcoming offseason. There would be no 2025 cap relief if pass-rusher Chase Young, who is signed to a one-year, $13 million contract, were traded. It would, however, give the Saints some much-needed draft cash. In seven games this season, Young has recorded 13 QB pressures and 1.5 sacks.

According to Bleacher Report, the Saints may trade Chase Young to the Lions or Ravens.

Although Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, a former first-round choice, are two dependable edge defenders for the Baltimore Ravens, there is always space for additional quality. John Harbaugh, the head coach, has historically like to have three edge defenders on the roster who can take down the quarterback, but he doesn’t currently have that. The Ravens could acquire a suitable replacement for the late Jadeveon Clowney if they make a trade for Chase Young.

Baltimore’s defense hasn’t performed well so far in 2024, despite their 5-2 record. The unit’s current EPA/dropback allowed ranking of 28th is insufficient for a club hoping to make the Super Bowl. A third option off the edge should only make things easier for a struggling secondary that needs to improve in order to win the Lombardi Trophy. Van Noy and Oweh can exert pressure on the quarterback.

In Aidan Hutchinson’s place

Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions are real Super Bowl contenders after decades of incompetence. This team has the potential to go all the way and bring a title to the Motor City, led by an outstanding offense and an opportunistic defense. However, renowned pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson’s leg injury against the Dallas Cowboys severely hurt their chances of winning it all. No one can match Hutchinson’s output, who is perhaps the best pass rusher in football. A trade for Chase Young, though, might lessen the harm and maintain this defense’s championship-caliber performance.

Hutchinson is a guy you never want to lose, but Detroit’s lackluster depth chart makes this loss even more devastating. Josh Paschal and James Houston are only good backups, and Detroit needs a stronger pass rush in order to defeat the best teams in the NFL. Chase Young’s chances of being a consistent Pro Bowl player were probably destroyed by injuries, but the trade candidate is a capable starter who might give the Lions some much-needed stability at the position.

Lamar Jackson is a 1,000-yard Pro Bowl wide receiver acquired by the Ravens in a trade idea.

Given that three AFC contenders just added elite wide receivers, the 5-2 Baltimore Ravens must begin considering the postseason before the trade deadline on November 5.

Amari Cooper was acquired by the Buffalo Bills last week, and Davante Adams was traded to the New York Jets. The Chiefs completed their deal for DeAndre Hopkins with the Tennessee Titans on Thursday.

With the talent already on their roster, the Ravens’ offense has been dynamic, and as of Week 8, they lead the league in touchdowns. However, Baltimore’s executive staff should be considering adding additional firepower in order to contend for a Super Bowl run this season, given their recollection of a 17-10 home loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship in January.

Throughout the Ravens’ first seven games, quarterback Lamar Jackson has made good use of his pass catchers, throwing for 1,810 yards, which is good for fifth-most passing yards in the NFL this season.

With 34 receptions for 412 yards and one score, second-year receiver Zay Flowers leads the team in receiving and is a rising star in Baltimore. Rashod Bateman, who has 21 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns, is comparable to Flowers.

Mark Andrews and Isiah Likely, two tight ends with strong stats going into Week 8, are behind that tandem.

This season, just two other wide receivers for the Ravens have caught a ball. Nelson Agholor has eight receptions for 134 yards. Tylan Wallace has 31 yards from two catches.

For a club that leads the league in rushing during the regular season, that scenario is acceptable. The Ravens will get a favorable AFC seed by winning enough games.

However, in the playoffs, when games are usually closer in the end and Jackson will be required to manufacture a game-winning score on a late drive, Baltimore should think about acquiring another reliable wide receiver option for when the club requires a formation with three wide receivers.

AS’s Chris Licata listed ten NFL deals that must be made this season. Licata suggested that in order to acquire experienced wide receiver Adam Thielen, the Ravens should make a deal with the Carolina Panthers.

Thielen won’t be used by the 1-6 Panthers in January to try to make the playoffs. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Carolina will probably do the proper thing and release the 34-year-old at the trade deadline so he may approach a suitor. (For the 2025 season, the two-time Pro Bowler will have a cap hit of $8.4 million.)

In his first three games of 2024, the All-Pro has caught eight passes for 109 yards and one touchdown. (Thielen has missed the Panthers’ last four games while he recovers from a hamstring injury.)

In his 11-year NFL career, Thielen has 645 receptions for 7,805 yards and 60 touchdowns, including 1,014 yards in 2023.

Licata proposed that the Ravens trade Thielen to Carolina for a 2025 sixth-round pick. Although giving up a late Day 3 pick won’t have a significant negative impact on Baltimore’s future prospects, acquiring Thielen might help the Ravens defeat a formidable Kansas City or Buffalo defense in January and provide Jackson with his first Super Bowl shot.