Is Chase Young in charge of the Detroit Lions defense?

Detroit Lions fans hope the team will be active on the trade market before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. Since Aidan Hutchinson retired, many names have been linked to the Lions at some point, creating a need for an edge rusher.

One of the players that could be available on the trade market could be a familiar name, as Chase Young has been a popular player among lions trade rumors last year. After all, he was traded from the Washington Commanders to the San Francisco 49ers last year in exchange for a third-round compensatory pick.

In the off-season, Young signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the New Orleans Saints and could be available on the trade market again as the Saints fall to 2-6. A number of factors contributed to the slump, including an injury to defensive end Derek Carr.

Pro Football Focus has Young with a 56.3 overall defensive grade and a 59.2 passer rating. His best performance of the season came against Kansas City on Monday night, when he had seven pressures and was sacked against Patrick Mahomes.

Young people were modest production this season, with two sacks and 30 pressures through the first eight games of the season. He has 18.5 career sacks and registered 2.5 after being traded to the 49ers at the deadline last year.

The Ohio State product was named a prolific passer out of college and was drafted by the Commanders second overall in 2020. However, injuries limited his productivity early in his career.

When Young is healthy, he can be productive to help a lions‘ pass rush, which has been depleted by injuries to Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport. Both players are out for the season, and the Lions’ defensive line has not recorded a sack in the two games since Hutchinson’s injury.

With strong interior pieces like Alim McNeil, DJ Reeder and Levi Onwuzurike, the Lions’ position could allow Young to thrive at a high level. He would be a top pick for Detroit’s tight end group, a unit that is special right now Josh PaschalJames Houston and practice squad options Al-Quadeen Muhammad and Isaac Ukwu.

Young would need a modest return, probably in the form of black capital. WITH lions in the absence of that juice, the Ohio State product could provide a burst of energy.

If Detroit were to acquire the defenseman, it would be on a rental basis, as his contract expires at the end of the year. This could be beneficial for a team that has already handed out several long-term extensions, as Young will not have the impact of the salary cap for future years.

Eventually, lions need to update on the edge. While not among the league’s elite players, Young will provide a much-needed boost in production. Additionally, he could provide an edge in the game that would keep the defensive line stable.