As much as Young earned being benched, he deserves better than being target practice for defenses. Carolina needs to cut him loose, putting the Young era in the rearview where it belongs.
New Orleans Saints | Trade defensive end Chase Young to a contender
Weeks 1 and 2 were a mirage for the Saints.
New Orleans looks more like the team we expected before the season during its current four-game losing streak, during which it has been outscored 118-76.
The last-ranked Saints defense has been the biggest disappointment, even with Young having a solid start to the season. Per PFF, he has 25 total pressures in 198 pass-rush snaps.
He’d be better served playing for a contender. Even if offered a Day 3 pick in the 2025 draft, New Orleans should take it.
With the Saints up against the salary-cap wall next season, a cheap, late-round draft pick could be more valuable than a veteran on an expiring contract.
Longtime Saints general manager Mickey Loomis has resisted a full-on rebuild in the four seasons since future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Drew Brees retired in 2020. However, it’s time he finally acknowledges the reality of the Saints’ situation.
They’re much closer to the league’s bottom than its top. Young and several of the team’s veterans could offer more as trade chips should New Orleans begin looking toward the future.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Trade for Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux
Tampa’s struggles against the run would be alleviated by adding Godchaux.
The eight-year NFL veteran has a league-high 18 stops (h/t PFF), defined as “tackles that constitute a ‘failure for the offense.”
Godchaux’s 13.8 stop rate on 132 run plays is 5.2 percentage points higher than Vita Vea, Tampa Bay’s top defensive tackle in the metric (8.6 percent).
The Bucs’ run defense has been lackluster, allowing an average of 4.7 yards per attempt, 24th in the league. By comparison, while Tampa ranks 28th in pass defense, it’s 11th in net yards per pass attempt, which accounts for sacks as part of its formula.
Tampa Bay has faced 144 rush attempts, and per PFF data, defenders have combined for 66 stops, tied for the eighth-fewest among NFL defenses.
Fortifying the defensive line could go a long way in helping the Bucs win their fourth consecutive division title.
