The Washington Commanders had a type over the first wave of free agency. General manager Adam Peters went away from the aging veterans with almost nothing left to give. He replaced them with younger, hungrier players — most of whom have a big chip on their shoulder.
There is no finer example of this than K'Lavon Chaisson. The Commanders want to see if his breakout campaign with the New England Patriots can be the start of a profitable prime. They've had to pay a decent amount to do so, but the rewards could be substantial if everything comes together.
Chaisson was labeled as a draft bust before landing in New England. He was a driving force throughout the Patriots' playoff run that ended in the Super Bowl. Now, he gets the chance to bolster a Washington pass-rush that was anemic at best during the two years under Joe Whitt Jr.
Commanders could have a free agency steal in edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson
Caio Miari of The Score thought this could be an absolute steal for the Commanders. And if the 2020 first-round pick performs as expected, he can expect a much bigger financial commitment this time next year.
"[K'Lavon] Chaisson's prove-it deal could be a steal. Granted, the 2020 first-round pick had a slow start to his career and is on his fourth team in as many seasons. But he's fresh off a campaign in which he set career highs of 18 QB hits and 7.5 sacks as a member of the New England Patriots. The LSU product also recorded three sacks in the playoffs. Chaisson, 26, may be hitting his prime and could serve as a dynamic No. 2 option with great upside for Washington."
Chaisson has the length and athleticism that look tailor-made for Daronte Jones' projected schematic concepts. Odafe Oweh's big-money move generated more hype, but the former LSU star could be highly impactful. With Dorance Armstrong Jr. still around, and Charles Omenihu also added to boost depth, this weak link could be transformed into an area of strength.
It's been a rollercoaster ride for Chaisson to reach this point. He failed to meet expectations with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was cut by the Carolina Panthers before playing a competitive snap. But after showing signs of life on the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, he finally took off with the Patriots.
The Commanders stand to benefit greatly if Chaisson builds on this newly acquired momentum. And in this scenario, the $12 million contract he signed will look like chump change compared to his next deal in Washington or elsewhere next spring.
That's a win-win for everybody.