The Washington Commanders weren’t done making moves in free agency, and by keeping up the hunt for the best available, have ended up solidifying a position that was 1 of their biggest weaknesses in 2025.
“Sources: Patriots edge K’Lavon Chaisson is signing with the Commanders,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on X on Wednesday morning. “Another edge for Washington. The deal is for 1-year and $12M. A fully revamped front seven, with Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson off the edges.”
The Commanders already made a huge move in free agency on Monday by signing Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Odafe Oweh, another former 1st round pick, to a 4-year, $100 million contract.
“BREAKING: The Commanders are signing edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson to a 1-year, $12M deal,” Preme Football wrote on its official X account. “The former 1st-round pick in 2020 played 16 games in his lone season with the Patriots, recording 31 tackles, a career-high 7.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. Chaisson, one of the top remaining free agents on the market, now heads to Washington.”
Chaisson has approximately $20 million in career earnings through 6 seasons.
“K’Lavon Chaisson and Odafe Oweh totaled almost twice as many pressures in 2025 as any other player currently on the Commanders roster,” NextGen Stats wrote on its official X account. “Chaisson also totaled 16 pressures and 3 sacks in four postseason games.”
K’Lavon Chaisson Part of Legendary LSU Team
Chaisson, 6-foot-3 and 254 pounds, was the star defensive player on arguably the greatest college football team of all time with LSU in 2019, when the Tigers went 15-0 and won the College Football Playoff National Championship.
That team featured an NFL record 14 draft picks, including 5 1st round picks led by Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow along with NFL All-Pro wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.
On defense, though, it was Chaisson’s time to shine with 60 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 13.5 TFL, and 6 quarterback hurries along with 2 passes broken up and 1 forced fumble.
The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Chaisson in the 1st round (No. 20 overall) but let him become a free agent after 4 seasons in which he never developed into a full-time starter and only had 5.0 sacks — it’s also worth pointing out Chaisson played for 4 different head coaches in those 4 seasons.
Chaisson signed a 1-year, $2.5 million free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers but was released before he even played a game. He spent the rest of 2024 with the Las Vegas Raiders before signing a 1-year, $3 million contract with the Patriots.
Commanders Improved Defense in Free Agency
It’s impossible to look at the moves made by the Commanders in free agency and not feel like they’ve vastly improved their defense.
Things kicked off with the move for Oweh, who had 7.5 sacks for the Chargers over the final 12 games of the regular season.
It continued on Tuesday signing 2-time Super Bowl champion inside linebacker Leo Chenal away from the Kansas City Chiefs on a 3-year, $24.75 million free agent contract.
“Sources: Former Chiefs LB Leo Chenal is signing with the Commanders for 3 years $24.75M,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account. “Chenal, just 25, won two Super Bowls in Kansas City and was a starter for 44 games. A strong addition.”
The signing of Chenal might also indicate something equally as important — that there’s a chance the Commanders might not have 13-time NFL All-Pro inside linebacker Bobby Wagner back in 2026.
Wagner has played for the Commanders on a pair of 1-year contracts the last 2 years and is a free agent. NFL All-Pro linebacker Frankie Luvu occupies the other inside linebacker spot.
Commanders Make Huge Splash With $20 Million Former 1st Round Pick