K’Lavon Chaisson Is Thriving in New England-and Earning Every Dollar
When the Patriots signed K’Lavon Chaisson to a modest one-year, $3 million deal, it didn’t exactly make waves across the league. At that point, Chaisson was still carrying the weight of unmet expectations as a former first-round pick, a player who had flashed potential but never quite found his footing with the Jaguars or Raiders. Fast forward to Week 16, and that narrative has changed-dramatically.
Chaisson has emerged as one of the biggest surprises in New England’s resurgent season under new head coach Mike Vrabel. He’s not just contributing-he’s producing at a level that demands attention, and more importantly, a new contract.
A Career Year, When It Mattered Most
Let’s talk numbers, because Chaisson’s are speaking loud and clear. In 13 games, he’s already set career highs in sacks (6.5), quarterback hits (15), and tackles for loss (8).
He’s also leading the team in total pressures (48) and hurries (33), and has logged at least two pressures in nine separate games. That’s not just solid production-that’s impact.
And it’s not just about what shows up in the box score. Chaisson has become a consistent disruptor on the edge, second only to Harold Landry III in terms of pass-rushing presence. He’s been on the field for 539 snaps-second-most among Patriots edge defenders-and he’s earned every one of them.
Unlocking Potential in the Right System
This version of Chaisson didn’t appear overnight. It’s the result of a player finally landing in a system that knows how to tap into his strengths.
Credit the Patriots’ coaching staff for putting him in positions to succeed, but also credit Chaisson for capitalizing on the opportunity. He’s playing faster, more confident, and with a level of urgency that wasn’t always there in his previous stops.
While his run defense still has room to grow, his ability to affect the quarterback makes him a valuable asset-especially in a league where edge pressure is gold. For a Patriots team that’s clawing its way back into relevance, Chaisson’s emergence has been both timely and critical.
Free Agency Looms, but So Does a Pay Day
Chaisson’s contract is set to expire after the season, and at 26 years old, he’ll hit free agency with momentum on his side and his best football seemingly still ahead of him. That’s going to attract interest. Pass rushers who are young, productive, and ascending don’t stay on the market for long.
But for New England, letting him walk would be tough to justify. He’s thriving in this scheme, and the team clearly saw something when they brought him in. That initial belief is paying off in a big way.
The Patriots structured his current deal with performance incentives-bonuses tied to playing time and sack totals. He’s now just half a sack away from unlocking a $500,000 bonus, which tells you two things: one, the front office knew how to motivate him, and two, he’s delivering on that challenge.
Don’t be surprised if future negotiations include similar incentive structures. It worked once, and it could work again.
A Win for Both Sides
No one could’ve guaranteed this outcome when the deal was signed, but here we are. Chaisson is producing like a top-tier pass rusher, and the Patriots are reaping the benefits of a low-risk, high-reward signing. It’s the kind of move that good front offices make-and great ones capitalize on.
The arrow is pointing up, not just for Chaisson, but for his future with this defense. If New England wants to keep building on the foundation Vrabel is laying, keeping a player like Chaisson in the fold feels like a no-brainer.
He’s earned it.