3 realistic expectations for Jaguars OLB K’Lavon Chaisson in 2022

No. 2 Jaguars OLB K’Lavon Chaisson must record 5 sacks in 2022

The Jaguars were close to shipping K’Lavon Chaisson to the Minnesota Vikings before last year’s trade deadline but ultimately kept him around. There haven’t been any more reports of Jacksonville shopping the edge defender but they should give him at least one more season before giving up on him.

While Chaisson should be blamed for his shortcomings in the NFL, it’s necessary to point out that he hasn’t enjoyed much stability in Jacksonville. He’s changed position twice in as many years and the team was a mess under Urban Meyer.

General manager Trent Baalke inherited Chaisson and has previously shown that he’s willing to trade players the previous regime acquired. On the other hand, head coach Doug Pederson and defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell might want to hold onto him to see if they can untap his potential and help him get to the quarterback more often.

Chaisson has only recorded two sacks in the last two years. He needs to at least double that amount and possibly aim for five or six in 2022. It’s hard to remember a former first-round pick that saw that kind of uptick in year 3 but there’s one that comes to mind: Aaron Maybin, the 11th overall pick in the 2009 draft.

Maybin didn’t have a single sack in his first two NFL seasons but had six in his third. He was out of the league by 2013 but the point it’s telling that he was able to shine for at least one year. If Chaisson can six five or six sacks in 2022, he will solidify his spot on the Jaguars’ roster.