No team spent more money than the New England Patriots this past offseason. Yet, it's one of their signings that's proving to be among the most impactful: linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson.
Chaisson has been a revelation in his inaugural campaign with the Patriots. He's been everything they could've hoped for and more since inking him to a one-year, $3 million "prove it" deal this past March.
An 11-2 New England club went on bye atop the AFC standings and with its first division title since 2019 firmly in reach. Chaisson has unexpectedly been at the center of it all. He may have played himself into their long-term plans, which could be punctuated by a strong stretch run, whether Patriots fans like it or not.
K'Lavon Chaisson has quickly (and surprisingly) risen from low-profile free agent to Patriots linchpin
All Chaisson needed was 12 games with the Patriots to set single-season career bests in tackles for loss (eight), quarterback hits (15) and sacks (6.5). He also has a pass deflection, forced fumble and a scoop-and-score recovery.
The advanced metrics support the impressive box score numbers. Chaisson is 18th among edge defenders in ESPN's latest pass-rush win rate rankings (14 percent). He's near the top of his position in both hurries (32) and total pressures (47).
It's hard to envision where the Pats would be without Chaisson wreaking havoc in the front seven. Calling him a pleasant surprise would be an understatement; he's been instrumental to their shockingly impressive campaign.
A change of scenery has enabled Chaisson to unlock the lofty potential that made him a first-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. The sixth-year veteran showed signs of life in 2024 with the Las Vegas Raiders, though he's elevated his performance in Foxborough.
We've seen the athleticism and explosiveness off the edge that made Chaisson a highly touted prospect. He's finally honed his combination of skills and physical traits to become a key contributor for a surging, playoff-bound squad.
Who knows what the future holds for Chaisson and the Patriots beyond 2025? Either way, New England has already gotten a tremendous return on investment on the 26-year-old.