Dallas is no stranger to circling back to old draft crushes …

Jerry Jones has certainly talked a big game leading up to NFL free agency. This year’s class is full of talent, and the Dallas Cowboys have no shortage of needs on the defensive side of the ball following arguably the worst defensive season in franchise history.

While the NFL world awaits a resolution to the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes, Jones should be circling other pass-rushing targets in the event that the Raiders don’t budge on their asking price.

How about the player hat the Cowboys nearly drafted over CeeDee Lamb six years ago? If you remember, Dallas had its sights set on a pass rusher, and Jerry Jones later admitted that LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson was high on the team’s board. It was the draft’s worst-kept secret.

Lamb sliding to pick No. 17 left Jones with an easy decision, but given Dallas’ past interest in Chaisson, you can’t rule him out if the Crosby chase flames out.

The Dallas Cowboys could rekindle their interest in K’Lavon Chaisson in free agency

Is there a team in the NFL that enjoys circling back to its old draft crushes more than the Cowboys? You’d be hard-pressed to name one, and Chaisson happens to be hitting the market following a career year with the Patriots that culminated in an appearance in Super Bowl 60.

In fact, Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com believes that America’s Team could be in the mix to sign the Houston native.

“Chaisson has since played for four different teams, unable to find his footing until the last two seasons, when he racked up a combined 12.5 sacks, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and 63 combined tackles between the Raiders and Super-Bowl runner-up Patriots. Keep an eye on this one,” Walker wrote.

While it’s true that Chaisson had a nice year with the Raiders in 2024, he had a greater impact with the Patriots. Among edge defenders who logged at least 390 pass-rush snaps, Chaisson ranked 16th with 54 pressures, 20th with a 12.1 percent pass-rush win rate, and tied for 8th with eight sacks, per PFF.

The Cowboys must determine whether that production can be replicated or was an anomaly, as Chaisson managed just five sacks in his first four seasons.

Not every NFL player experiences linear progression. Some don’t figure it out until their second contract, and Chaisson won’t turn 27 until July despite just finishing his sixth season.

It’s worth noting, too, that Chaisson’s best season came when he had two great defensive tackles mucking up the middle in Christian Barmore and Milton Williams. In Dallas, he’d have the support of Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, and Osa Odighizuwa.

It’s easy to make a case for signing Chaisson, but the Cowboys should aim higher if they truly want to fix their pass rush. Either way, Walker thinks he’s someone to watch.