The Washington Commanders caused a stir by reportedly committing a significant amount of money to edge rusher Odafe Oweh. This fills a desperate need, but general manager Adam Peters was not done with this critical position group in free agency.
And there was one fast-rising name emerging around the league, concerning Washington, that turned out to be accurate.
The Commanders have reportedly agreed to terms with Oweh on a four-year, $100 million deal with $68 million guaranteed. This is a massive statement of confidence in a player who's been a rotational presence throughout his career, but he has the size, length, and explosiveness to thrive within Daronte Jones' aggressive concepts.
Commanders' defensive revolution continues with edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Commanders haven't stopped there. Washington has agreed to terms with K'Lavon Chaisson on a one-year deal worth up to $12 million, giving the player a chance to prove his growth in 2025 wasn't just a flash in the pan.
Chaisson has been a journeyman draft bust throughout most of his time in the league so far. He never caught on anywhere and was readily released by several clubs before landing with the New England Patriots. They saw something in the pass-rusher that others didn't, and this turned out to be a match made in heaven.
The No. 20 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft gained 7.5 sacks and was a constant menace coming off New England's edge. His 58 pressures ranked 18th among all edge defenders, according to Pro Football Focus. While he wasn't the finished article, Chaisson played a leading role in the Patriots' surge under Mike Vrabel en route to the AFC Championship and a return to the Super Bowl.
The Commanders chose to go down this route, but there are risks. Chaisson needs to build on this positive momentum to justify what could be a much bigger financial commitment coming his way. His progress last season was immensely encouraging, but the overall body of work throughout his career is not.
Considering how the edge rusher market is soaring and how the trade chaos around Maxx Crosby is sending shockwaves through the league, Peters was right to swoop quickly if he believed Chaisson could be an asset. And this might take Washington might take them out of the running for David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr. in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Commanders still have plenty of money available, so it's a short-term risk. It also confirms their belief that the LSU product's breakout last time around can be the start of something more.
Time will tell on that one.