K'Lavon

Chaisson

Chaisson is a former first-round pick of the Jaguars, totaling five sacks in four seasons. The Jags did not pick up his fifth-year option, sending him into free agency this offseason where he signed with the Panthers. He was let go by Carolina prior to the season’s start, and now the Raiders will try to get something out of him from the practice squad.

Less than a day removed from signing pass rusher D.J. Wonnum, the Panthers are once again adding to their revamped core of pass rushers with the signing of Chaisson. Chaisson was allowed to test free agency after the Jaguars opted to not exercise his fifth-year extension last offseason. The former first-round pick is somewhat a reclamation project, as he’s struggled to live up to his draft capital through four seasons. Injuries cut his 2022 season short, but in 57 career games, Chaisson has managed just 73 tackles and five sacks. His role will likely depend on how he performs in OTAs and training camp, as this looks like more of a one-year prove-it deal.

This decision doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Chaisson has just three sacks in 40 career games with the Jaguars and saw his 2022 season cut short by a meniscus injury suffered in Week 5. He made it back in time to play in the Jags’ final five games of the regular season, totaling 10 tackles and one sack over the stretch. The Jaguars made Chaisson the 20th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, and have received little for their investment. He’ll officially enter 2023 on a contract year.

Chaisson exited Sunday’s game against the Texans with a knee injury after being questionable with a knee injury heading into the week. Now heading for injured reserve, the former first-round draft pick won’t be eligible to return until Week 10. Chaisson has logged just 31 defensive snaps on the season.

Chaisson was questionable with a knee injury coming into the game, so it is likely the same knee. He didn’t appear in the stat sheet before leaving. Chaisson had played just 28 snaps in Jacksonville’s first four games of the season.

With just two sacks in over 400 NFL pass rush reps, and woeful seasonal PFF grades of 47.0 and 49.6, this doesn’t come as a major surprise. If Chaisson had done anything worthwhile Travon Walker likely would not have become a Jaguar. As it is, Walker will likely start ahead of Chaisson, and the former 20th overall pick might become a depth pass rusher or reclamation project.

He’ll likely miss the team’s three-day minicamp, his first since being drafted during the heart of the pandemic as Jacksonville’s No. 20 overall pick last year. This news comes after the 21-year-old traveled to and from Las Vegas where he participated in Von Miller’s pass rush summit. Chaisson will be re-tested once more prior to the Jaguars’ final session of minicamp.

Chaisson’s strengths include great explosion, bend and a willingness to power through offensive tackles as a pass rusher. He will likely flip between off-ball linebacker and pass rushing alignments, but a full-time role might not be available immediately, as the Jaguars already roster two great edge rushing talents in Yannick Ngakoue and Josh Allen. The team is attempting to rebuild a defense that was considered the best in the league just a few years ago. Jacksonville also signed rookies S Daniel Thomas, QB Jake Luton and CB/KR Chris Claybrooks.

A two-year starting outside linebacker who was awarded the Tigers’ No. 18 jersey as a player who “does all the right things” prior to the team’s National Championship run, Chaisson (6’3/254) bounced back from a torn ACL in his left knee in 2018 to finish with personal bests in tackles (55), tackles for loss (13), and sacks (6.5), taking home the College Football Playoff semifinals DPoG award for his six-tackle, two-sack performance against the Sooners. He projects as a stand-up speed rusher likely to win with an elite bend and burst off the edge — similar skills he leveraged against first-round prospects Georgia OT Andrew Thomas and Texas LT Samuel Cosmi last year — at the next level. Chaisson needs development in his technique, particularly with double moves, but he offers Pro Bowl upside as a developing 21-year-old in his rookie season.

Jones believes the Falcons could have their eyes on Florida CB C.J. Henderson or LSU EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson. The Falcons have tried to beat back the narrative they are desperate to move up, but it has been one of this week’s most persistent storylines. We don’t have to wait much longer to find out.