CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
K’LAVON CHAISSON
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-4
250 pounds
20 years old
BIG PICTURE
It wouldn’t be the NFL Draft without some high-risk, high-reward prospects. K’Lavon Chaisson is such a player with limited high school and college reps, no combine measurables upon which to grade and yet, a physical skillset that will catch evaluators’ eyes. Chaisson tore his ACL in 2018, but rebounded by becoming an All-SEC talent in 2019, not to mention a national champion. Pundits speak about inconsistent effort, however, that could be wholly due to his rawness. Chaisson only played two seasons of high school ball and one college season as a starter. He tragically lost his father in a shooting back in 2014.
COMBINE NOTABLES
DNP
VIKINGS’ COMPATIBILITY RANKING
3 out of 5. A raw edge rusher out of LSU? Sign Vikings fans up, who are thinking back to Danielle Hunter. Chaisson’s draft stock is a bit polarizing, but there’s a chance he could be there in the 20s or even in the second round if the Vikings want to groom a replacement for Everson Griffen.
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “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.”
Joe Marino, Draft Network: “When it comes to K’Lavon Chaisson, the toolbox is overflowing with explosive burst, freaky bend and a motor that never runs idle. His foundation to work from in terms of developing his pass rush skill set is rare. A versatile defender, LSU had Chaisson work in space and on the line of scrimmage. The notion that he can’t defend the run is poppycock and Chaisson is highly effective slashing gaps and exchanging power in the trenches. Chaisson may be a touch inexperienced but LSU tasked him with responsibilities that speak to his overall versatility and football IQ. While he has room to grow, there just aren’t physical restrictions present and his ceiling is incredibly high. Early in his career, taking advantage of his physical gifts and having him shoot gaps is probably his best course to seeing the field but it shouldn’t take long for him to become an all-around dynamic edge defender that offers his team incredible versatility.
WHAT PFF SAYS
Only 516 career pass-rushing snaps
0 single-game pass-rushing grades of 80 or higher last season
4+ pressures each of last four games
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
