The Washington Commanders have signed their fourth defensive free agent after inking another three-year deal with a former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker
The Washington Commanders have added an impact addition to the makeup of the defense under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones after plucking one of the best linebackers in the AFC.
Former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal is reportedly signing with Washington on a three year deal worth $24.75 million.
Chenal becomes the fourth free agent signing for Washington after inking edge rusher Odafe Oweh, interior defensive lineman Tim Settle and cornerback Amik Robertson, though Chenal may end up being the best of them all.
Chenal also joins a pair of former teammates after offensive linemen Andrew Wylie and Nick Allegretti, who joined the Commanders after stints with the Chiefs, re-signed with the organization this offseason.
A former first team All-American third round pick out of Wisconsin, Chenal also arrives as a two-team Super Bowl champion after becoming an impact piece over the lats four seasons. As a rookie, Chenal posted 35 total tackles and one sack before following it up with a career-high three sacks and 65 tackles in 2023. He then registered three forced fumbles and a 60 tackle season in 2024 while he is coming off a 2025 season as the anchor of the Chiefs defense, posting a pair of sacks and 58 total tackles in what ended up being his final season with the organization.
"Leo Chenal was all over the place," Kansas City head coach Andy Reid said of Chenal. "We had him spying the quarterback and that's a challenge in and of itself. He's a really good player. He moves around well."
Now with Washington, Chanel gives the Commanders an experienced piece to take over the inside linebacker room while adding youth given he will turn 26 years old midway through the 2026 season. The need became a bigger question mark for Washington this offseason given veteran Bobby Wagner, who ended the 2025 season named the Walter Payton Man of the Year, now enters free agency after two seasons with the organization.
ESPN ranked Chenal the 41st best free agent this offseason while noting the added versatility that he brings.
"Chenal brings some versatility to any game plan as a defender who can play off-the-ball, insert into the front or even line up as a stand-up defensive tackle. Chenal is good at tracking the ball in the run game from the second level."
Chenal also registered 28 total pressures during his four seasons in Kansas City while starting 44 games during his time with the organization.
It marks arguably as impactful of a free agent signing as Oweh, though it is Chanel who could become the impact piece in the front seven. With versatility within the front seven, Chanel has proven to be an asset in run support while proving capable as a cover linebacker. The former Wisconsin star reeled in an athletic one-handed interception early in the 2025 season against Lamar Jackson in an eventual win over the Baltimore Ravens for his first career interception. Chanel has also posted six pass deflections over the last three seasons.