The Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled to get after the quarterback this season despite the fact that they have a duo of talented defensive ends in Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Their pass rush is currently in dire need of a boost, so nobody would bat an eye if the team's brass brougth in reinforcements at the NFL Trade deadline.
Meanwhile, a once underwhelming first-round pick who used to play for the Jags is thriving with his new pick. This makes you wonder whether it was a mistake to let him walk.
Former Jaguars draft bust K'Lavon Chaisson has become a force for the Patriots
K'Lavon Chaisson joined the New England Patriots on a one-year deal worth $3 million in free agency. At the time, he was coming off a banner season with the Las Vegas Raiders, but the fact that he had struggled throughout his career might've been the reason why he wasn't able to get a better contract. Looking back, the Pats got a steal.
Chaisson is on pace to have another career season, registering 4.5 sacks and 12 total pressures in seven games this season. He just registered two in the win over the Tennessee Titans. Of course, sacks aren't the only way to measure a pass rusher's success or lack thereof. But the former LSU Tiger already has more than both Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen this season. Heck, he's logged more takedowns than Arik Armstead, who leads Jacksonville with three.
Simply, New England has gotten plenty of bang for their buck with Chaisson, who'll be in line to get a massive pay bump if he keeps playing at a high level the remainder of the season.
The Jaguars could surely use K'Lavon Chaisson now
There's no way to sugarcoat it: K'Lavon Chaisson was a disappointment for the Jaguars. After showing promise late in his rookie season, the Texas native left much to be desired in subsequent years and progressively saw his playing time decrease in subsequent years.
By 2023, Chaisson had become just a rotational piece, and you could even make the case that he was the No. 3 pass rusher behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen that year was because Jacksonville didn't have anyone else. Not surprisingly, the Jags let him walk in 2024.
Chaisson went on to sign with the Carolina Panthers but was cut just before the 2024 season started. It wasn't until he latched onto the Las Vegas Raiders that he truly hit his stride, posting a career-high five sacks and a jaw-dropping interception.
Based on how his career has played out, two things are possible: The Jaguars weren't a fit for him, and they might not have done enough to get the most out of Chaisson. On the other hand, readiness is always variable coming out of college, and some players take more than others to put it all together. That may have been his case.
It's not far-fetched to think that Chaisson didn't have the mental maturity to take on the challenges that come with being a football player. Perhaps he didn't have a sense of urgency and didn't know what it takes to excel at the NFL level.
But regardless of the reason, K'Lavon Chaisson is thriving while the Jaguars are struggling to bring the heat. Who would've seen this coming back in 2023? Then again, there's a reason he was a first-round pick in 2020. It just took him more than expected to live up to expectations.