Saints, former 49ers defensive end Young agree on one-year contract
New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free agent defensive end Chase Young. Young turns 25 in April. He was drafted second overall out of Ohio State by the Washington Commanders in 2020 and was named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Last season, he had 7½ sacks in 16 games with the Commanders and San Francisco 49ers, who acquired him in a midseason trade.
■ Retirement: Leighton Vander Esch has retired after six NFL seasons following a series of neck injuries. The linebacker missed 12 games for Dallas last season. The announcement by the 28-yearold former first-round draft pick came three days after Vander Esch was released by the Cowboys with a failed physical designation.
■ Cowboys: Dallas is reducing quarterback Dak Prescott’s massive salary cap hit by reworking his contract going into the final year of the deal. A $5 million roster bonus has been converted into a signing bonus to reduce the 2024 cap hit by $4 million. It’s now at $55 million. The Cowboys can create more salary cap relief with an extension for Prescott.
■ Eagles: Kenny Pickett is ready for a fresh start in Philadelphia. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded the quarterback to the Eagles last week. Pickett, who will serve as the backup to Jalen Hurts, said Monday that he “just thought it was time” for him to leave Pittsburgh and called the move to Philadelphia a “good reset.”
■ Bills: Buffalo signed nickel cornerback Taron Johnson to a three-year contract extension, locking him up through the 2027 season. The 27-year-old Johnson is coming off his first All-pro selection and was entering the final season his contract.
■ Steelers: Pittsburgh signed special teams ace Miles Killebrew to a two-year contract. The team also came to terms with wide receiver Van Jefferson on a one-year deal.
■ 49ers: San Francisco agreed to a deal with quarterback Joshua Dobbs to give the team another backup option behind Brock Purdy.