It’s been anything but a successful start for K’Lavon Chaisson when it comes to his career in the National Football League. Chaisson, the 20th-overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2020 NFL Draft, totaled five sacks through his first four seasons as a pro. Despite playing in at least 15 contests during three-of-four campaigns, no season welcomed more than 2.0 sacks for the LSU alum. That’s already changed in 10 games with the Las Vegas Raiders.
In fact, since joining Sin City’s ranks, Chaisson has put up career-highs across the board.
As a pass-rusher, the first-year Raider has put up season-highs in sacks (2.5) and win-rate (14.3%), beating his old career-best win percentage of 8.5%. Additionally, Chassion’s 8.9% of snaps that result in a pressure currently stands far superior to his top-mark of 7.3% during his ’21 campaign.
On Friday, against the Kansas City Chiefs, Chaisson put on a show when going after Patrick Mahomes. On top of totaling six pressures on 22 pass-rushes – a pressure-per-snap percentage of 20%, ranking highest among all EDGE in Week 13 with at least five pass-rushes – the 25-year-old beat his blocker on 30% of snaps. This win-rate ranked second-highest at his position among all EDGE with at least five pass-rush snaps for the week, and tied for highest among edge-rushers with double-digit pass-rushes.
It was a display of dominance from the young defensive end who’s still trying to find his rhythm in the pros.
Against the run, Chaisson has once again managed to reach a new level during his short time with the Raiders. With a 77.0 grade on running plays via Pro Football Focus, Chaisson’s old career-high of 61.5 on such downs is left in the dust.
Currently, only 11 edge-rushers across the NFL have a better grade in this category.
K’Lavon Chaisson and the Las Vegas Raiders: To re-sign, or not to re-sign?
By all accounts, Chaisson is enjoying a career-season in Las Vegas. More than that, this may be the start of the beginning for the fifth-year edge-rusher who’s loaded with potential.
If Chaisson is able to come anywhere close to the potential NFL scouts were sure he had coming out of college, Las Vegas is sure to get a big-time contributor for years to come. Best of all, it shouldn’t cost the Raiders much – for the time being – to keep their recently acquired pass-rusher around.
However, the question of whether or not Las Vegas should invest in Chaisson is one that has multiple layers.
Second-year defensive lineman Tyree Wilson continues to improve each week. Since Week 8, Wilson and Chaisson have been neck-and-neck as pass-rushers. While Wilson has 3.0 sacks, Chaisson has 2.5, and while the Texas Tech alum has 12 pressures, his position-mate has 13.
It’s possible for the two to live in harmony and feed off of each other, as they are now, but that leaves Malcolm Koonce out of the picture, who’s set to become a free agent at the end of this season. Investing in Chaisson goes a long way in spelling the end of Koonce’s time in Sin City.
Although, that may work out perfectly for the Raiders.
A plan in free agency
At the conclusion of the ’24 season, seven of the team’s 11 defensive starters will become free agents. That includes both safeties, each linebacker, Nate Hobbs and Adam Butler, on top of Koonce.
It doesn’t include defensive linemen Maxx Crosby or Christian Wilkins, however; nor does it include Wilson.
Perhaps additional help on the defensive line is the least of the Raiders’ concerns, undoubtedly made even less of an issue by retaining Chaisson at what’s almost certain to be a fraction of the cost of Koonce.
And, although Chaisson has one year of NFL experience on Koonce, the latter is one full year older.
On top of [presumably] saving space via the team’s salary cap, going in this direction means Tyree Wilson, who’s playing what some consider to be his ‘true rookie season’ due to recovering from a foot fracture in 2023, will have ample field-time to continue his development.
In just one year’s time, Wilson has gone from a blatant liability to an every-game contributor. Since Week 8, Wilson has notched both a sack and tackle for loss in three-of-five games, and while he didn’t have a sack in his most recent outing, he did force a season-high four pressures.
None of this takes away from the talent Malcolm Koonce is, however. The eight sacks he accumulated last season are more than Chaisson and Wilson have combined for, while his three forced fumbles and nine tackles in the backfield prove he’s more than just a pass-rusher.
Regardless of what the Raiders decide to do, one thing is for sure: K’Lavon Chaisson is making himself a free agent to watch this offseason thanks to his career-year in Sin City. Perhaps he’ll continue his growth next season while staying in Las Vegas.
*Top Photo: Hondo Carpenter
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