In a recent development, pass rusher Chase Young has agreed to terms with the New Orleans Saints. However, the details of his contract reveal a major asterisk that was previously omitted from the initial announcements. It has been clarified that out of the total $13 million mentioned as fully guaranteed, $7.99 million is actually tied to per-game roster bonuses.

According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Young's contract includes a signing bonus of $1.86 million, a base salary of $2.7 million, a guaranteed workout bonus of $450,000, and per-game roster bonuses totaling $470,000 per game. While these roster bonuses are guaranteed, Young still needs to meet certain requirements to qualify for them.

The inclusion of per-game roster bonuses serves as a way for the Saints to protect themselves in case Young is unavailable to play. If Young were to be cut, he would still receive the payments. However, if he remains on the active, game-day roster, he will receive the $470,000 for each game in which he participates.

This aspect of the contract aims to reconcile the news of Young's recent neck surgery. In order to earn the per-game roster bonuses, he must demonstrate his readiness and availability to play. If he meets these criteria, Young stands to earn a guaranteed amount of $4.56 million. The remaining portion of his contract, though guaranteed, is contingent on his performance and availability.

Chase Young, the NFL's defensive rookie of the year in 2020, faced a setback in his career due to a torn ACL during the 2021 season. The San Francisco 49ers traded a third-round pick for Young last season, adding another layer of significance to his journey.

As Young navigates his recovery and aims to return to top form, fans and analysts will closely monitor his progress game by game. Each contest will determine his eligibility for the per-game roster bonuses and shed light on his comeback story.

The overall structure of Young's contract underscores the cautious approach taken by the Saints in ensuring that they have a fully available and impactful player on their roster. It remains to be seen how Young will respond to the challenges ahead and whether he will earn every dollar of his contract through his on-field performances.