Report Surfaces Of Steelers Hot Pursuit Of Former Number 2 Overall Draft Pick Chase Young

The Pittsburgh Steelers are being rebuilt on the fly by Omar Khan, Andy Weidl and Mike Tomlin. The trio have brought in competition at every offensive line position during the 2023 offseason (except at center) and at least two and possibly three new starters could emerge up front. The front office tore apart the inside linebacker room and the only holdover is Mark Robinson, a seventh-round pick, from the 2022 draft. They revamped the secondary through the draft and brought in former All-Pro wide receiver, Allen Robinson.

The amount of movement is almost staggering in Pittsburgh. Fans are giddy about what move could happen next and it could be a trade for Chase Young, the former number two overall pick in the 2020 draft. Behind the Steel Curtain’s Jeff Hartman reported on Saturday that the Steelers’ interest in Young is very real. 

“The question isn’t if the interest is there,” Hartman wrote. “But if the team will be able to get a deal done or not.”

The Steelers Head Coach has been a big fan of Young since he entered the NFL. Pittsburgh hosted the Washington Commanders in 2020 during the pandemic. The virtually empty stadium allowed NFL films to capture a key exchange between Tomlin and Young on the sidelines. 

Young and the rest of the Washington defense had an outstanding game against the 11-0 Steelers. They held the Steelers to just three second-half points and Young posted one of the two hits on Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers dropped their first game of what would eventually be a 1-4 slide to end the season before a disappointing playoff exit in Maurkice Pouncey's last game. 

Khan has proved himself already as a master negotiator and now Pittsburgh can potentially bring in Young on a prove-it deal since the Commanders officially declined his fifth-year option. The Steelers have been reported to be in serious negotiations with Alex Highsmith on a new deal as he is entering his fourth season in the NFL. One doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the other according to Hartman, but it could certainly affect the price tag for Highsmith.

“What does this mean for Alex Highsmith’s potential extension,” Hartman queries. “The deal is still likely to get done, but the financials could shift if a deal is made for Young.”

Highsmith posted a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2022 with TJ Watt missing half of the season. Watt makes anyone he plays with better, but the third-year player was the focal point of opposing defenses for the first half of the season. Highsmith was among the league leaders in sacks before Watt’s return so the problem last season wasn’t his production. It was finding someone to produce opposite him without the former defensive player of the year.

Young is an extremely interesting solution for the Steelers’ defense. He was a can’t-miss prospect coming out of Ohio State. Young was the second selection in the 2020 NFL draft and was the Defensive Rookie Of The Year and a Pro Bowl selection posting 7.5 sacks. The past two seasons have damaged his stock immensely.

He tore his ACL in 2021 in the 10th game of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was in the midst of a mild sophomore slump before the injury, only posting 1.5 sacks through 9 games, but he was on pace to improve his total tackles. He has lost most of the last two seasons battling injuries.

Steelers Trade For Chase Young Could Cost Significantly Less Than Expected

Young is 6'5", 265 pounds so he would not be an ideal fit as a down lineman in the 3-4 scheme Pittsburgh plays. He could be a significant upgrade as an alternative edge rusher to rotate with Highsmith and Watt. Young, when healthy, ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash coming into the NFL. Even if he has lost a step with the knee injury, he likely still has exceptional speed for the position. If the price is right, it makes the Steelers instantly better. 

The Steelers signed Markus Golden, who has been productive in the NFL, but is 32 years old. Young is only 24 years old and if he is finally healthy after losing two seasons, the Steelers could be getting a lot more than depth. A full-strength Young opposite Watt or Highsmith would likely put up tremendous numbers and give the Steelers an even more ferocious pass rush. 

The pass-happy NFL gives plenty of reps to edge rushers. The Philadelphia Eagles proved just how good a defense can look with a deep rotation of players capable of delivering sacks in 2022. The Steelers front seven with the addition of Young could be as good and potentially better than any with Watt drawing the opposing offense's attention. 

Khan’s interest in bringing in the Commanders’ former first-rounder before he hits free agency is smart and could deliver him to Tomlin in 2023. The organization’s flurry of offseason moves is transforming the Steelers’ paper-thin roster in the last few years of the Kevin Colbert regime to a very deep team that is looking more and more like a contender.

What do you think Steeler Nation? Is trading for Young a master class move by Khan if it happens? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.

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