LSU Edge K'Lavon Chaisson
Height / Weight: 6'3" / 254 lbs
2019 stats: 13 games, 60 tackles (34 solo), 6.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, two passes defended
Accolades: Freshmen SEC All-Freshman (2017), First-Team All-SEC (2019), CFP National Champion (2019)
2020 NFL Draft prospect rankings: Daniel Jeremiah's Top 50 - #25
Giants current depth at Edge: Lorenzo Carter, Oshane Ximines, Kyler Fackrell, Kevin Wilkins
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah: Chaisson primarily lined up as a stand-up rusher in the Tigers' defensive system. He is long, explosive and very athletic. As a pass rusher, he relies more on pure get-off speed and athletic ability than technical skill. He is at his best as a looper, where he can find a crease and explode through. He has yet to figure out how to use his length to his advantage on a consistent basis. Against the run, he flashes the ability to stack and hold the point, but he excels at slipping blocks and creating havoc. His speed and effort show up on the back side of plays. Overall, Chaisson is more athlete than football player right now, but he has all of the raw tools to be a dominant force at the next level.
View photos of LSU EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson.
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson walks on the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
LSU linebackers Donnie Alexander (48), K'Lavon Chaisson (4) and Devin White (40) celebrate a sack as Texas A&M quarterback Nick Starkel (17) sits on the turf and in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Auburn quarterback Bo Nix (10) passes under pressure from LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) holds his Most Outstanding Player trophey after the Peach Bowl NCAA semifinal college football playoff game against Oklahoma, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Atlanta. LSU won 63-28. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) hits Oklahoma fullback Brayden Willis (81) during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA semifinal college football playoff game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) sacks Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA semifinal college football playoff game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence passes under pressure from LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson during the first half of a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
LSU safety Marcel Brooks (9) and linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) celebrate a sack during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Texas A&M in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) tackles Georgia running back James Cook (4) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) sacks Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA semifinal college football playoff game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Atlanta.(AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Mississippi quarterback John Rhys Plumlee (10) looks for room past LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. No. 1 LSU won 58-37. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) tackles Auburn quarterback Bo Nix in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. LSU won 23-20. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger tries to break a tackle by LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger runs from LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Auburn quarterback Bo Nix (10) passes under pressure from LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) rushes against Florida offensive lineman Jean Delance (56) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) stops Florida quarterback Kyle Trask on a fourth down near the goal line late in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. LSU won 42-28. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson walks on the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) pressures Utah State quarterback Jordan Love (10) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Arkansas quarterback Cole Kelley is stopped short on fourth down by LSU linebackers K'Lavon Chaisson (4) and Devin White in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017. LSU won 33-10. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) is pressured by LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Arkansas quarterback Cole Kelley is stopped short on fourth down by LSU linebackers K'Lavon Chaisson (4), Devin White (40) and safety John Battle (26) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017. LSU won 33-10. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson, left, breaks up a pass intended for Notre Dame running back Tony Jones Jr. during the first half of the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game, Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: Possessing an impressive diversity of moldable pass-rushing ingredients and moves, Chaisson has begun putting the recipe together to become a game-altering pass rusher. While some long-limbed rushers lack the bend and leverage to maximize their length, his fluidity and agility allow him to dip, corner, change direction and close in tight quarters or with extended range. He's not a physical run defender and might be a liability early in his career against power. Chaisson's stock has gained momentum with his surging performance matching the elite athletic qualities. It adds up to an increasingly confident projection as an impact pass-rusher with Pro-Bowl potential.
ESPN's Mel Kiper: Every year, teams covet edge rushers with projectable traits, even if they don't always produce huge numbers. That's Chaisson, who had just 6.5 sacks this past season, only 3.5 of which came in the regular season. Those high-ceiling edge rushers don't always go in the first round, of course, but you can see on tape why a team might love Chaisson's potential. He starred in the Tigers' win over Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff, picking up two sacks. It's fair to say there is risk involved; Chaisson missed most of the 2018 season with a knee injury, and he finished his LSU career with just 9.5 sacks. Again, though, this is all about upside, and I'm betting his stock keeps rising through the pre-draft process.
The 2020 Draft Profile series:
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