Jacksonville Jaguars decline K'Lavon Chaisson 5th-year option: 4 observations

Outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson hasn't lived up to expectations since the Jacksonville Jaguars made him the 20th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Thus, it's not particularly breaking news that the fifth-year option on his rookie deal has been declined.

Just a couple of days after the conclusion of this year's draft, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that the Jags have chosen not to exercise Chaisson's fifth-year option. Now, he's slated to become a free agent next offseason. This doesn't mean he will leave Jacksonville but his chances of sticking around have decreased considerably.

Chaisson struggled in his rookie season, playing with his hand on the ground after rushing the passer from a standup position at LSU. Then again, he finished the season strong, logging 21 total pressures in the last seven games, which gave a gleam of hope heading into 2021.

With Urban Meyer taking over in 2021, Chaisson got a clean slate and moved to outside linebacker, the position where he could maximize his skill set. However, he once again failed to make an impact and managed to rack up just one sack.

Last year marked the third time the Jags changed head coaches since 2020. This might have affected Chaisson, who saw a diminished role in the pass-rush rotation. To make matters worse, he was sidelined with a knee injury and spent a few weeks on the Injured Reserve. He returned near the end of the 2022 season but didn't do much of note.

After three uneventful seasons, Chaisson is now entering a contract year, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Here are four takeaways from the Jaguars' decision not to pick up the option.