K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU

Height: 6-4

Weight: 250

Class: Junior

D.O.B.: 7/25/99

Statistical Profile: Chaisson played in 26 games with 17 starts in his three years at LSU, but only managed 9.5 sacks and 19 tackles-for-loss in that time. Last season was his best statistical campaign, with 6.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 15 games.

Where he wins: Probably the most athletic edge defender in the class, Chaisson is a rare combination of size and mobility for his position. The way he looks, moves and will test at the Combine will slide him up every team’s board, but the LSU standout has very little production to show for all of his impressive traits.

From a physical standpoint, Chaisson’s long frame is already well-built and his body pro-ready. He’s stacked with muscle and plays plenty strong, combining his length, flexibility and power to create push with a long arm or bull rush. The redshirt sophomore also sets a strong edge, standing up offensive linemen in the run game and even working off blocks to chase the ball to the sideline.

Why teams left him unblocked on the backside as a part of any run scheme ideas, I have no clue. Chaisson is just too fast down the line of scrimmage is you aren’t at least holding his eyes with some backfield motion.

Combine that physique with absolutely eye-popping flexibility and quickness and it’s easy to see why Chaisson is highly sought after as a prospect. When he times up the snap right and is settled in his stance, Chaisson can erupt up the field with rare burst and speed, threatening the edge and forcing tackles to chase him up the arc.

Chaisson can run under a table at full speed against anyone, but he also added a cross chop, double swipe and a long arm to his repertoire this season to help soften the edge. His favorite move seems to be an inside spin, which he broke out several times this season to beat tackles across their face. Chaisson’s ability to contort his upper body and slip his inside shoulder by punches unscathed is just another sign of his ridiculous flexibility.

Although Chaisson’s calling card as a pass rusher will be his speed and bend, his saving grace may be that he’s absolutely not averse to more physical rush plans either, or hitting inside moves as needed. He’s not consistently good at either right now, but the flashes are highly encouraging.

Because he is still in need of ample development, the most encouraging thing about Chaisson may be that he is heralded as a high character leader and competitor at LSU. For all the rawness he has as a rusher, Chaisson thinks the game pretty well and often IDs screens appropriately. He plays with the physicality and motor that will draw coaches to work with him, believing they can help him reach his sky-high ceiling.

Where he may struggle: Chaisson’s pass rush reps are truly all over the map, from winning 1v1 in incredibly athletic fashion to falling over, getting taken out trying to corner the edge or getting totally locked down by a well-placed punch. His plan of attack only looks good in spurts – there is a good amount of the time where Chaisson seems totally unprepared to rush the quarterback after the snap, from a methodical get-off to a lack of secondary moves when he gets locked up early.

Chaisson’s inconsistency is not one of effort (at all), but instead one of refinement. His hands can be wild and he can get too deep behind the quarterback, failing to get his hips and feet in line with the pocket. His speed helps him open up inside counter moves when tackles abandon their footwork to try to push him past the quarterback, but Chaisson hasn’t accessed those more direct routes to sacks nearly enough.

While his technique, combinations and vision as a pass rusher need to improve, Chaisson is a pretty stout run defender who only struggles when he lets a bruiser get inside his pads. He steps down against pullers, but his size works against him in that he can still get kicked out or widened to the sideline or up the arc, leaving space for backs to work through up front.

Sometimes he tries to go upfield around pullers, a risky maneuver that might not work for him in the NFL. Other times Chaisson uses box technique to take on an oncoming lineman, but he can get a little far up the field and will even turn his back to his opponent, making it tough to hold his ground. So basically he needs technical work against pullers and in unblocked situations playside, but other than that I think he’s a really good run defender.

Bucs Fit: Chaisson could make sense as a replacement for either Shaq Barrett or Jason Pierre-Paul if the Bucs were to lose one in free agency, but as of now that seems unlikely to happen. If JPP were to walk, Tampa has very little depth on the edge, and Chaisson would seem to be a great fit for Todd Bowles’ defense with his ability to stand up or play with his hand down as needed. This may be one to keep an eye on depending on how free agency goes.

Grade: Early 2nd Round