Unfortunately, the New England Patriots weren’t able to end the season hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. However, their sooner-than-expected turnaround should be something fans should be proud of, considering the low expectations heading into the season.
For New England to remain a championship contender, head coach Mike Vrabel and Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf must make difficult decisions about their impending free agents, one of which is K’Lavon Chaisson. In his lone season in New England, Chaisson had a breakout year and was an instrumental part of the Patriots' championship run.
With teams desperate for quality edge rushers, Chaisson is in line to receive a huge payday, according to Spotrac. projecting him to land a three-year contract worth $26.8 million. The Patriots have multiple areas they need to address, and with roughly $35 million in projected cap space, they shouldn’t spend it all on Chaisson.
If Chaisson is to command more than 10 million annually, don’t be surprised if the Patriots choose to let him walk and replace him with Arden Key.
Patriots Should Replace K’Lavon Chaisson with Arden Key
Even though Chaisson is unequivocally the Patriots’ best player on the open market, that doesn’t mean they should bring him back. While he was their best player generating pressure, and arguably their best defender in the postseason, Chaisson is a replaceable player, and the Patriots have far more urgent needs to address.
For starters, they must provide Drake Maye with a stronger supporting cast. The offensive line continues to struggle in protecting, allowing 21 sacks in four playoff games, and their receiving corps still lacks a true No. 1 receiver.
Not only that, but Christian Gonzalez is also eligible for a contract extension. After another season in which he cemented himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the league, Gonzalez appears poised to reset the market, and the Patriots should oblige with any figure he desires.
If the Patriots add reinforcements to the offense and sign Gonzalez to an extension, there is little room remaining to re-sign Chaisson at his price tag. Although it’ll be hard to move on from him, it’s risky to give him premier edge rusher money when he’s only had one good season.
Before joining New England, he accumulated just 10.5 sacks across 72 games between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders. Now, granted, you could argue that neither team set him up for success; however, he was given plenty of opportunities to succeed.
There are several free agents that the Patriots can sign at a lower cost, and Key should be an ideal candidate for this role.
Key played for Vrabel’s Tennessee Titans in 2023, so he has experience in the coach's system. He’s also proven to be an adequate defender against the run and pass. In his last three seasons with the Titans, Key has recorded 16.5 sacks, 74 hurries, 94 total tackles, and 21 tackles for loss.
Although he missed some time in 2025, Key is a competent pass rusher, totaling four sacks and 21 hurries in 12 games. While he may not offer the upside potential of high-end production as Chaisson does, Key does provide sufficient pressure numbers at a lower cost, as Spotrac estimates his average annual salary at $6.7 million.
With the Patriots trying to take advantage of Maye being on a rookie contract, signing Key is a no-brainer decision. He would save the Patriots money while providing similar pressure numbers as Chaisson.
Hopefully, the Patriots don’t use their cap space to re-sign Chaisson. Instead, they should sign formidable depth players on both sides.