✍️ Written by Dom (@ZeroChillSports)
Sometimes, all a player needs is the right environment to unlock their potential. For K’Lavon Chaisson, that place turned out to be Foxborough.
Once written off as a first-round bust with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chaisson has completely rewritten his NFL story with the New England Patriots — and under head coach Mike Vrabel along with interim defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr and defensive line coach Clint McMillan , he’s not just reviving his career. He’s thriving.
A Forgotten Prospect Reborn
When the Jaguars selected Chaisson with the 20th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, expectations were sky-high. Coming out of LSU, he was known for his elite burst, bend, and raw athleticism — the kind of traits that scream “future star pass-rusher.” But in Jacksonville, the production never matched the promise.
Over four seasons, Chaisson battled inconsistency, injuries, and constant coaching changes. By the time the Patriots took a chance on him, he had just five career sacks to his name — and most analysts saw him as another example of wasted first-round potential.
But Mike Vrabel saw something different.
Where others saw a failed prospect, Vrabel saw an untapped weapon. He understood what it meant to be a hybrid edge player — he’d been one himself. So when New England signed Chaisson, it wasn’t a desperation move; it was a calculated bet on scheme fit, discipline, and coaching.
And that bet is paying off in a big way.
The Turning Point
Chaisson’s breakout moment came in Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans, when he recorded two sacks — one of which resulted in a strip-sack returned for a touchdown. It was the kind of performance Patriots fans haven’t seen from an edge rusher since the peak of the Matt Judon era.
But it wasn’t just one game. Through the first half of the 2025 season, Chaisson has emerged as one of New England’s most disruptive defenders — consistently pressuring quarterbacks, setting the edge against the run, and playing with the confidence that made him a first-round pick in the first place.
Under Vrabel and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, he’s been used creatively — standing up on the edge, lining up as a 5-tech, and even dropping into coverage when needed. That versatility has been the key to unlocking his full potential.
A Perfect Fit in Vrabel’s System
In many ways, Chaisson embodies exactly what Vrabel preaches: relentlessness, versatility, and accountability.
The Patriots’ defense thrives on adaptability — it’s built around players who can move, react, and think. Chaisson has embraced that challenge fully. His effort is undeniable, and his understanding of situational football has grown immensely since his Jacksonville days.
Players around him have taken notice, too. Veterans have praised his work ethic and energy, while younger players look to him as an example of how to handle adversity and keep pushing forward.
What’s changed most is his confidence. He’s no longer playing to prove people wrong — he’s playing to prove himself right.
A Bright Future in Foxborough
Chaisson is only 26 years old, which makes his resurgence even more impressive. In football terms, he’s just hitting his prime — and the Patriots have him under contract during a stretch where their defense looks poised to become one of the league’s most feared units again.
Alongside rising talents like Marte Mapu and veterans like Matthew Judon and Christian Barmore, Chaisson gives New England a young, athletic edge presence that can anchor the defense for years to come.
It’s not hyperbole to say he’s becoming one of the emotional leaders of this group — a player whose energy sets the tone every Sunday.
The Redemption Story We Love to See
Five years ago, K’Lavon Chaisson was nearly forgotten — labeled a bust, released, and seen as another name in the long list of unrealized potential.
Now, he’s rewriting his legacy as a cornerstone of the Patriots’ future.
With Mike Vrabel guiding him and a new culture that believes in him, Chaisson has found his football home. And for the Patriots, it looks like they’ve found another defensive star who’s just getting started.
From first-round disappointment to franchise pillar — K’Lavon Chaisson’s redemption story is one every football fan should be rooting for.
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