Free agent defensive end Chase Young to visit Panthers, Titans, Saints this week

Amid free agency this week, defensive end Chase Young is planning to visit the Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints this week to help decide where he’ll play football in 2024. Young officially becomes a free agent on Wednesday when his one-year stint with the San Francisco comes to an end. The 49ers did not work out a contract extension on the former first-rounder’s rookie deal, which means he’s free to negotiate with any and all suitors. The visits were first reported by NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

The former Washington Commanders star played in nine games this season for the 49ers after his trade. He first tallied 15 tackles with five sacks for the Commanders before tacking on another 10 tackles with 2.5 sacks for San Francisco. He also had eight tackles with a sack during the 49ers’ postseason run.

The Titans, Panthers and Saints have all been busy since the start of the free agency window, perhaps Carolina most of all. They’ve signed two guards – Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt – and traded Brian Burns to the Giants.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans let running back Derrick Henry walk this week. They decided in favor of signing former Dallas Cowboys starter Tony Pollard. The Saints signed one of their own on Monday, inking linebacker Demario Davis to a two-year deal.

Young, the No. 2 selection in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, is entering his fifth NFL season and will do so with a third new team. He’s turning 25 in April and his next move could be home for the foreseeable future.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.