Washington Commanders Free Agency: Another pass rusher added on 1-year deal

The NFL’s legal tampering period started at on Monday at noon. The Washington Commanders have agreed to terms with four pending free agents from other teams, and they’ve added another one before the new league year starts today at 4 pm. There was interest reported in Patriots OLB K’Lavon Chaisson, and now that has turned into a 1-year, $12 million deal. They reportedly added Chargers DE Odafe Oweh on Monday with a 4-year, $100 million deal. Washington also re-signed DE Deatrich Wise and Drake Jackson, and they will have Dorance Armstrong and Javontae Jean-Baptiste coming back from injury.

Chaisson was the 20th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, going to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and playing his first four seasons with them. He only started 11 games with them, and left in free agency after they declined his 5th year option. Chaisson was not a first or second wave priority free agent at that point in his career, and joined the Panthers for a summer before getting an opportunity on the Raiders practice squad. He started four games for Las Vegas in 2024, and then signed a 1-year, $5 million deal with the New England Patriots. Chaisson had the best season of his career with New England, starting 10 games, with 7.5 sacks, 31 tackles, 18 QB hits, and 2 passes defended. He also started two games in the playoffs, recording 3 more sacks.