After a long and grueling offseason, the regular season is finally here. However, while most players have found a home for the upcoming season, offensive tackle Charles Leno is still a free agent. As a member of the 2023 Washington Commanders, Leno gets a bad rep for playing on a unit that allowed the second-most sacks in the league last year. However, a deeper dive shows that Leno can still play and was not the issue with that team.
According to Pro Football Focus, Leno allowed 34 pressures and three sacks in 2023. However, those numbers are artificially inflated by Washington leading the league in passing attempts and quarterback Sam Howell’s propensity for holding on to the football. Charles Leno himself received a 72.5 PFF grade for his work last year, making him the 25th-best tackle among 81 eligible players by that metric. While he’s no superstar, the former seventh-round pick would be a clear upgrade for the following five organizations.
5 Teams That Could Sign Free Agent Charles Leno
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints offensive line is so bad that it could sink their entire season. Perhaps first-round pick Taliese Fuaga can hit the ground running, but the right tackle position is a complete disaster with Ryan Ramczyk gone for the season. Derek Carr is one of the worst quarterbacks in the league against pressure, and he will face a lot of it in 2024. New Orleans desperately needs more help at tackle, and Charles Leno is the best free agent available. While he won’t make anyone forget about the blocking of the 1990’s Cowboys, he can form a competent tackle duo with Fuaga.
New England Patriots
The Patriots offensive line is so bad that Vederian Lowe is one of the most important players on the team. Lowe had a disastrous 2023, and his work in training camp and the preseason did not inspire hope. However, he knows where to line up, which is more than you can say about Chukwuma Okorafor. Adding a competent left tackle like Charles Leno as a free agent will give Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye a fighting chance in 2024. Leno and Mike Onwenu can form an adequate tackle duo, and the interior trio of Sidy Sow, David Andrews, and fourth-round pick Layden Robinson can get the job done.
Carolina Panthers
There is a chance that free agent Charles Leno might have to start the 2024 season as a backup. If that happens, it’s hard to think of a better fit than the Carolina Panthers. After two seasons, the jury is still out on whether or not former first-round pick Ikem Ekwonu can be a reliable starter. While he has moments of greatness, Ekwonu struggled with consistency and didn’t build on his rookie season. Carolina invested heavily in the offense throughout the offseason, but if Ekwonu can’t hold up his end of the deal, then the Panthers could bring in a better tackle to make life as easy as possible for Bryce Young.
Baltimore Ravens
Charles Leno is a tackle, but the Ravens could sign the free agent and indirectly solve their guard problem. Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele are currently set to start at left and right guard, respectively, and this could be a problem. Vorhees was a seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft who didn’t play at all last year, while Faalele has only made one start in the past two seasons. Patrick Mekari is currently penciled in at right tackle, but the veteran has experience along the interior offensive line. If Baltimore feels second-round pick Roger Rosengarten isn’t ready to start, they could sign Leno to play tackle and move Mekari inside.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers finally signed Brandon Aiyuk to a long-term deal, but they have yet to solve the Trent Williams contract saga. The future Hall of Fame left tackle is holding out for a new deal, as he doesn’t have any guarantees beyond this season. Perhaps the two sides can figure something out in the coming days, but all signs point towards a long and messy holdout. Charles Leno is not nearly as good as Williams, but the free agent can be a reliable starter. With Brock Purdy due for a massive raise, this could be San Francisco’s last great chance to win the Super Bowl, and Leno would go a long way toward accomplishing that goal.
Main Photo: Brad Mills – USA Today Sports
