Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal has never made a Pro Bowl, but the two-time Super Bowl champion could earn a massive raise in the coming months. A third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Wisconsin product has never put up elite numbers but has always looked good on tape. Last year, the linebacker finished the season with one interception, two sacks, 58 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, five quarterback hits, and a 75.1 PFF grade, the 19th-best mark in the league.
While he never emerged as a three-down starter during his time in Kansas City, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay believes a team will spend big to see if he can become a full-time star in a new organization. Coming in at seventh on his list of the top-10 free agents under 26, Kay made his case for why he believes the young linebacker will be in high demand.
“Leo Chenal never emerged as a fixture in the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense, but he’s likely going to be signed as a full-time linebacker this offseason due to the glimpses of elite play he’s shown during the past few seasons…It remains to be seen if Chenal has what it takes to be a core part of a team’s defense, but he’s well worth bringing aboard with hopes he can become that type of key player given his youth and upside.”
Chiefs Projected to Lose Free Agent Leo Chenal
Frankly, it’s easy to see why Kay believes the Chiefs will lose Leo Chenal. For one, Kansas City clearly believes he’s not a legitimate three-down player, as he’s never played more than 53% of the defensive snaps. Another team will try to see if he can maintain his high level of play in a larger role, and it only makes sense for Chenal to chase the better opportunity.
Even if the Chiefs wanted to match the highest offer, they probably wouldn’t have the financial capability to do so. This team is deep in the red and is currently $54.9 million over the projected salary cap. While the team can restructure contracts and cut players to reach cap compliance, they probably won’t have enough additional money lying around to secure Chenal’s services.
Leo Chenal had four strong seasons in Kansas City and helped the team win two championships, but he’ll probably wear another jersey in 2026.
Main Photo: Mark Konezny – Imagn Images
