K’Lavon Chaisson lands with new team in free agency

After one year with the New England Patriots, edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson is moving on. On Wednesday morning, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Chaisson is joining the Washington Commanders on a one-year, $12 million deal.

Chaisson, 26, joined the Patriots during last year's free agency. The 2020 first-round pick had spent time with three teams in five years, and signed to a one-year, $5 million contract as he looked to build on a career-high five sacks in 2024. He's Washington's second edge signing, after they added Odafe Oweh on the first day of free agency.

In New England he did exactly that, with 7.5 sacks and 10 tackles for a loss in 16 games. He played a starting role on a defense that ranked fourth in the NFL.

Now, the Patriots need to rebuild their edge rusher group continues. While the team did sign Dre'Mont Jones at the start of free agency, they're now down two core players from last year with Chaisson leaving and the Wednesday morning release of Anfernee Jennings.

At the Combine last month, both Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf spoke quite a bit about the edge position and the team's hope to upgrade there. While there still are some options in free agency, the NFL Draft likely now becomes a bigger point of discussion at the position, with a strong class projected.