How Does LSU Edge Rusher K’Lavon Chaisson Fit Into Jacksonville Jaguars System?

Chaisson brings elite athleticism to familiar Jaguars defensive scheme

K’Lavon Chaisson turned a lot of heads at the NFL Combine back in February when he proclaimed himself to be the most valuable player in the class. The quote that stuck out to most was his supreme confidence in being able to fit the needs any team asks of him.

“When you hire somebody, do you want to hire someone who speaks one language? Or do you want to hire somebody that speaks three languages? I speak three languages," Chaisson said. "I can pass rush, drop in coverage and cover anybody you want me to cover, and I can play the run. No offensive lineman will ever just move me off the ball and bully me."

In Friday’s first-round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Chaisson was taken with the 20th overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars have a history of taking talented LSU prospects, drafting Leonard Fournette and DJ Chark in back-to-back drafts to be the focal point of the offense.

They now hope Chaisson can be one of those building blocks for a retooling defense that was one of the best in the NFL just two years ago. Sporting a 6-foot-3, 254-pound frame, the 20-year-old Chaisson hasn’t begun to scratch the surface of his potential.

He’s coming off a redshirt sophomore season that saw him rack up 60 tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks. After not playing in all but one game in 2018 due to a torn ACL, Chaisson said the improvements he made in 2019 were profound.

“I feel like I improved in every way,”Chaisson said. “After missing a whole year it wasn’t about my skill set or improvement as much as it was about gaining the experience and getting that knowledge of the game you can’t get while on the sidelines.”

We caught up with Jaguar Report beat writer John Shipley to pick his brain on how Chaisson fits into the Jaguars system.

A year ago, K'Lavon Chaisson's fit with the Jaguars' defensive scheme may have looked questionable. He has plenty of pass-rush ability to justify lining him up at defensive end with his hand in the dirt on third down, but he doesn't have the frame to do so on base downs at the next level.

But as it stands today, Chaisson appears to be a better fit in Todd Wash's defense than he would've been previously. Jacksonville has said over the last few days that they want to have more 3-4 looks on defense, which makes sense considering the other additions they have made to the defense this offseason.

Chaisson has grown accustomed to playing in a 3-4 defensive scheme the last three years under Dave Aranda. Often times Chaisson rushed off the edge because that is his speciality after all, but he also showed an ability to drop back in coverage and contain the run. 

Containing the run was something he was asked to do a lot of at the beginning of the season when LSU faced many run option threats like Georgia Southern. It’s his versatility at the end of the day that Chaisson feels will help him be successful as a rookie.

"That's directly where it speaks,"Chaisson told the Jacksonville media after the pick. "Obviously, I feel like my best spot right now is rushing the quarterback. Without a doubt, let me put my ears back and get to the quarterback. But I feel my versatility is so critical.

On base downs, Chaisson will play either outside linebacker in 3-4 packages or strongside linebacker in 4-3 looks. On third downs, look for him to either stand up or put his hand in the dirt off of the edge across from Josh Allen.

“I can play different positions. Players like that are critical in today's game, but wherever the Jaguars want me to play I'm willing to do it without hesitation."

Chaisson will be tasked with helping rebuild a Jaguars defense that also took Florida cornerback CJ Henderson in the first round. 

A supremely confident and talented player, Chaisson has a chance to be a perennial pro bowler and leader of the defense for years to come.