New Patriot Already on Thin Ice Before Minicamp and OTAs

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The New England Patriots aren’t messing around this offseason. After back-to-back 4-13 seasons that left fans frustrated, the team made some bold moves. They cut ties with Jerod Mayo after just one season at the helm – a quick hook for the man who was supposed to fill Bill Belichick’s legendary shoes. In his place comes Mike Vrabel, a familiar face for Pats fans as both a former linebacker during the dynasty years and most recently the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.

New England opened up the checkbook in a major way during free agency, spending a whopping $295.9 million on ten free agents – putting them among the NFL’s biggest spenders. One of those signings was edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, who inked a one-year deal worth $5 million.

Chaisson brings an interesting pedigree to Foxborough. The former 20th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft was part of LSU’s star-studded national championship team in 2019. That Tigers squad was absolutely loaded with talent – producing five first-rounders including Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson, Patrick Queen, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire alongside Chaisson.

A Journeyman at 25

Despite his draft status and college success, Chaisson hasn’t found stability in the pros. At just 25 years old, he’s already on his third NFL team after stops in Jacksonville and Las Vegas. He even had a brief stint with Carolina before being released prior to the 2024 season.

His $5 million deal might suggest the Patriots see something salvageable in the former first-rounder, but the path to playing time isn’t guaranteed.

LSU Connection Creates Training Camp Battle to Watch

The Patriots may have complicated Chaisson’s future when they selected another LSU edge rusher, Bradyn Swinson, in the fifth round (146th overall) of this year’s draft. Swinson was a late bloomer for the Tigers, breaking out in 2024 and generating second-round buzz from several draft analysts.

Bradyn Swinson being picked this late is UNREAL.

The film is outstanding and his win rate on true pass sets was 30%, second best in the entire class and ahead of Abdul Carter (29%), James Pearce (27%), and Mykel Williams (14%).

STEAL for the Patriots. pic.twitter.com/1bREDsZf0x

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) April 26, 2025

The numbers don’t lie – Swinson’s 30% win rate on true pass sets was second-best in the entire draft class.

Many draft experts are calling Swinson a potential steal, which creates a fascinating training camp battle between two former LSU pass rushers. The irony isn’t lost on Patriots fans – could one Tiger ultimately replace another?

New England’s coaching staff will likely ease Swinson into the rotation as a pass-rush specialist initially. But if the rookie shows the same disruptive ability that made him a draft day bargain, Chaisson’s snaps could diminish as the season progresses.

For Vrabel’s defense to improve from last season’s struggles, they’ll need production from their edge rushers. Whether it’s the veteran reclamation project in Chaisson or the rookie upside of Swinson, this LSU-flavored position battle will be one of the most intriguing storylines to follow throughout training camp and into the 2025 season.