Leo Chenal didn't have to test the market in free agency this year. As a homegrown product of the Kansas City Chiefs' franchise and already a two-time Super Bowl champion, he could have done whatever it took to stay with the team, and there's a good chance that few people would have criticized him for it.
But Chenal wanted to see what was out there, and of all the suitors he had, the Washington Commanders resonated with him the most. They're in the process of rebuilding their defense, and they believe Chenal can be one of the key cogs in the system.
"It's kind of fun just hearing their plan [of], 'We just want to unleash you in the middle blitzing,'" Chenal said.
Chenal, who started 44 of his 65 games with the Chiefs, was ready for a bigger role in his career, as he only averaged 38.3% of the defensive snaps in that span. The Commanders appear ready to give him that bigger role. They want to get younger and faster on defense after a disappointing 2025 campaign, and Chenal, who will turn 26 this upcoming season, believes he can help his new team do that with his blend of versatility and physicality.
"I'm ready to uplift in any way that I can," Chenal said.
The Commanders will put that promise to the test, because Chenal has established a reputation as one of the more athletic linebackers in the NFL who can play at almost any spot on the field. That's certainly how the Chiefs used him; they lined him up on the line of scrimmage, in the box as well as the slot. He was one of the most well-rounded linebackers last season as one of just six players at the position with at least a 70 coverage grade to also record at least a 71 in overall defense, run defense and tackling.
Chenal has always had that potential -- he posted a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score at the combine in 2022 -- but it didn't get unlocked until he was asked to provide more support in coverage with the Chiefs. He's still progressing in that area, but he's shown steady improvement over the last two seasons. He posted coverage grades of 75 and 72.6 in that span, and while he was only targeted 14 times, he also allowed just 104 yards after the catch.
Aside from getting glowing reviews from former Chiefs teammates Andrew Wylie and Nick Allegretti, part of the reason why Chenal is so excited about joining the Commanders is that his new team is expected to push that envelope even further. The Commanders aren't revealing much about Daronte Jones' new defensive scheme, but given his history of working with Brian Flores in recent years, many are assuming there will be some position flexibility, particularly in the front seven.
Chenal made it clear to Jones and head coach Dan Quinn that he was willing to do whatever they asked of him as long as he could get on the field.
"They were very encouraging and welcoming in that fact, and that's kinda what made it very attractive," Chenal said. "Just the way they were excited to take advantage of my athleticism and skill set."
Check out Chenal's interview with Bryan Colbert Jr. for more on how he envisions his role in the Commanders' defense.
