The Washington Commanders have the second-most cap space in the NFL, and that’s partially due to their recent decision to release Charles Leno. Originally a seventh-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the former Chicago Bear spent the past three seasons protecting the blind side for the Washington Commanders.
However, all good things must end, and the Commanders decided to clear up $7 million in cap space by parting ways with Charles Leno. This move comes as something of a surprise, as Washington already had plenty of cap space and Leno was not the weak link on this offensive line.
While the unit gave up a league-leading 85 sacks, a lot of that came from quarterback Sam Howell’s propensity for holding on to the ball too long. Even when the line did break down, Leno was rarely at fault, as he allowed just three sacks and five quarterback hits. This isn’t to say that Charles Leno is the second coming of Joe Thomas, but the veteran tackle played well last year. According to Pro Football Focus, Lno finished the season with a 72.5 PFF grade, good for the 28th-best mark out of 81 eligible tackles.
Top 5 Charles Leno Team Fits, Ranked
Charles Leno is no longer a Pro Bowler, but he’s still a decent starter. In today’s NFL, there aren’t enough good starting tackles to go around, so somebody will give him a chance next year. In no particular order, these five teams make the most sense as potential landing spots.
Best Team Fits
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots need help at just about every offensive position, and their first order of business should be finding someone to protect whoever they select in the 2024 NFL Draft. With Trent Brown leaving and Mike Onwenu possibly on the way out, New England might need to replace both of their tackles. Charles Leno can fill at least one of those spots, and a line of Leno-Strange-Andrews-Sow-Onewnu should be good enough to give their rookie quarterback a fighting shot in 2024.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have four reliable starters on the offensive line. The left tackle spot, however, is a serious problem. Donovan Smith did nothing to impress during his first season with the club, and it’s hard to imagine him coming back in 2024. With most of their money needed to re-sign Chris Jones and bring in a wide receiver, the Chiefs might have to sign a mid-tier free agent like Charles Leno to fill the position. While Leno won’t set the world on fire, he’s more than capable of keeping Patrick Mahomes upright, and he should relish the opportunity to go after a Super Bowl ring.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are restructuring contracts once again, proving that they believe they can win with the current group of players. However, if they truly want to go on a deep playoff run, they’ll need to do something about the tackle position. Trevor Penning has not come close to playing up to his draft capital, and the team needs to find a better option in 2024. Charles Leno is one of the better choices for the job, as he won’t break the bank and can provide adequate protection for the easily-rattled Derek Carr.
New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers is coming back, but Mekhi Becton isn’t. While Becton never recaptured his rookie form, his absence still means that the Jets will have to find yet another starter to protect their 40-year-old quarterback coming back from an Achilles injury. Charles Leno has to be near the top of New York’s wishlist, as he can hold his own in protection and won’t prevent New York from investing more resources along the offensive line.
Carolina Panthers
Ikem Ekwonu isn’t a bad left tackle, but he’s not a great one. The Carolina Panthers need to improve the offensive line if they want Bryce Young to survive in Year 2, and that might involve moving Ekwonu to guard. Carolina’s interior offensive line might just be the worst in the league, and Ekwonu could turn the unit from a liability to a strength. Of course, if they do this, then they’ll need to find someone who can play tackle. Charles Leno is in the same tier of tackle as Ekwonu, so the Panthers wouldn’t be downgrading there. All in all, this might be the best way to keep Young upright in 2024.
Main Photo: Joe Nicholson – USA Today Sports
