New England Patriots pass rusher K’Lavon Chiasson signed a one-year, $12 million deal with the Washington Commanders on Wednesday morning. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported this.
Chiasson was a major part of the Patriots’ defense last season. He recorded 7.5 sacks and 43 total tackles over the course of the year.
He came to New England last March on a one-year $5 million deal to help bolster their pass rush. He did that in a major way, having a career year, and showing his capabilities as both a stout tackler and a pass-rusher.
Now, he is off to help add pass-rushing capabilities to the commanders, as Rapoport reported.
Sources: #Patriots edge K’Lavon Chaisson is signing with the #Commanders. Another edge for Washington.
The deal is for 1-year and $12M and was done by David Mulugheta of @AthletesFirst. pic.twitter.com/nU787oMwAj
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2026
New England Patriots Lose Defensive Playmaker
Chiasson had a penchant for the big moment. He had a third-down sack and a forced fumble on Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, and the team was able to come away with the victory on the road.
He had 59 total pressures over the course of the regular season and was able to fully be a key part of the Patriots’ pass rush.
The 2025 season was a bit of a rebirth from his time at the Las Vegas Raiders. He recorded only five sacks in 2024, and 32 total tackles. He has seven tackles for loss and a quarterback hit. The playmaker was also able to record an interception, the first of his career. The linebacker was able to showcase what he could do with the Raiders and was able to offer a glimpse of the skill set that made him a ferocious playmaker.
Now, the Patriots have to find another pass-rusher to offset the loss in production. The team did sign Dre’Mont Jones after the latter spent the 2025 season with the Baltimore Ravens. They also have help on the interior in Milton Williams. He was able to record 3.5 sacks on the year, and offered help and pressure on the interior. The Patriots will have to rely on players such as Williams to be able to make a strong impact.
Either way, this is a difficult blow for the Patriots. Chiasson was a key player for the team, and he fit well under coach Mike Vrabel. Will be interesting to see how the team combats this loss and what they will do in terms of pass-rushing production. Again, they have pieces, but Chassion was able to provide that rushing ability off the edge. The Patriots have had an eventful offseason, and Wednesday morning’s news certainly adds to that.
Patriots Defense Hit As Standout Signs with Commanders: Report