If the relationship between the Jaguars and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue truly is irrevocably broken, the team has his replacement.
The Jaguars selected LSU defensive end/outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson on Friday with the 20th selection of the first round of the NFL Draft, the second pick of the first round _ both defensive players, and both from the SEC.
The Jaguars took Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson with the ninth overall selection.
Chaisson (6 feet 4, 254 pounds), who started only one season with the Tigers and is just 20 years old, was nonetheless a first-team All-SEC pick after helping LSU win the national championship. He had 60 tackles, 13.5 for losses and 6.5 sacks. He was the second-highest rated edge rusher in the NFL combine, just behind Yetur Gross-Matos of Penn State, and has a relentless speed move when pass-rushing.
Chaisson saved some of his best performances for the biggest games last season. He had a season-high 10 tackles, 3.5 for losses, in a victory over Alabama; had eight tackles, three for losses and a sack in beating Florida; and had six solo tackles with two sacks in the College Football Playoff semifinal victory over Oklahoma. He was named the player of the game.
NFL scouts believe that Chaisson, who grew up in Houston, appears to have no ceiling. He likely will give the Jaguars more leverage with Ngakoue, who has clearly stated his desire to get out of Jacksonville and was hit with the franchise tag.
Chaisson is the third defensive lineman drafted by the Jaguars in the last three seasons, all SEC players. They picked Florida's Taven Bryan in 2018 and Kentucky's Josh Allen last season. Allen led the Jags with 10.5 sacks last season and Bryan continued to show progress at tackle.
