The Washington Commanders have signed one offensive weapon for quarterback Jayden Daniels in free agency, but they continue to beef up a defense that ranked dead last in the league in yards allowed last season.
Specifically, the front seven has improved significantly. Odafe Oweh, Tim Settle, and Leo Chenal were all added, and general manager Adam Peters still wasn't done. The Commanders signed 2020 first-round pick K'Lavon Chaisson for a one-year deal worth $12 million.
Chaisson is coming off a breakout year in 2025, when he had a career-high 7.5 sacks for the New England Patriots and three more in the postseason. Still, the message Washington is sending couldn't be clearer: he needs to prove a little more.
Commanders' short-term loyalty should have K'Lavon Chaisson playing hungry in 2026
Chaisson has had a fascinating career. He struggled to make an impact in four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars and was then cut by the Carolina Panthers without playing a competitive snap. He then joined the Las Vegas Raiders, where he had a productive campaign, tying his career high with five sacks.
He built even further on that season with the New England Patriots. Chaisson started 10 games and played a key role in helping the AFC East club reach the Super Bowl. Now he's in Washington, looking to earn a major payday.
It's unclear how Chaisson will fit into the Commanders' plans. He has played both edge and linebacker in his career, and perhaps a hybrid of both can be anticipated. Frankie Luvu, Jordan Magee, and Chenal should be expected to start at the second level, with Oweh and Dorance Armstrong Jr. as the primary pass-rushing options.
Clearly, the Commanders view Chaisson as an X-factor with the upside to become something bigger. A role similar to the one Dante Fowler Jr. — another former Jaguars first-rounder — played in 2024 may be the ideal scenario, when the journeyman veteran had 10.5 sacks and a pick-six despite only starting seven games.
The difference is that Chaisson is still only 26. If he takes another step forward this season, a major extension could be on the table. In this scenario, the Commanders might need to consider a longer-term commitment.
All in all, it's a reasonable one-year flyer on a player who just keeps getting better every year. We'll see if Chasson's career resurgence can continue in Washington.