K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have long been one of the most forward-thinking franchises when it comes to advanced metrics, though there’s not always a direct line from the analytics department to the scouting staff in any organization. Chaisson, selected 20th overall, presents a fascinating conundrum when it comes to production versus potential. Last season for the national champion Tigers, Chaisson put up 6.5 sacks, seven quarterback hits, and 21 quarterback hurries in 370 pass-rushing snaps. In his three-year collegiate career, he’s totaled 8.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, and 34 quarterback hurries.
To put that in perspective, second overall pick Chase Young had 16.5 sacks, seven quarterback hits, and 31 quarterback hurries… last season. And yes, Young is a different type of player, but if you’re taking a player in Chaisson with this kind of middling production, you’re banking a lot on potential, and there are some worrisome traits when it comes to Chaisson’s ultimate NFL upside.
While Chaisson does zoom around the edge with estimable speed, and he does have an interesting-but-nebulous bull rush in his palette, he also has a tendency to get absolutely erased by power tackles. Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, taken fourth overall by the Giants, put Chaisson in his place on a loop last season.
Check out left tackle Andrew Thomas matched up against 1st-round edge prospect K’Lavon Chaisson here. Absolutely dominating in pass sets:#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/9GXpQlfR7C
— Anthony Rivardo (@Anthony_Rivardo) April 3, 2020
We suppose the Jaguars hope Chaisson will become the next Danielle Hunter — another former LSU edge-rusher who came out of college with amazing raw traits and a desperate need to bolster them with technique. Hunter eventually did, but Chaisson has a lot of catching up to do.
Justin Herbert | Damon Arnette | K’Lavon Chaisson | Jordan Love | Grant Delpit