Commanders agree to deal with former Chiefs LB Leo Chenal: What it means for team and player

Leo Chenal's versatility gives Washington's new defensive coordinator multiple options

Washington hired Daronte Jones as its new defensive coordinator this offseason, and Jones will call plays at the NFL level for the first time. Chenal gives him a flexible option across multiple spots.

ESPN analyst Matt Bowen broke down Chenal's fit:

"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. In four seasons, he has recorded 193 total tackles, seven sacks and 28 pressures."

His 2025 season ended after a shoulder injury in Week 15, sending him to injured reserve. He had posted 58 tackles, two sacks and one interception in 14 games before the setback.

Washington's LB corps takes shape as Bobby Wagner's return remains in question

Chenal joins veteran Frankie Luvu and third-year player Jordan Magee in Washington's linebacker room. Magee flashed late last season and projects into the rotation, while Luvu provides a proven presence.

Washington ranked among the league's most porous defensive units in 2025, and Chenal's signing represents one piece of a broader overhaul Peters is funding this offseason.

The veteran anchor of that group may not return. Bobby Wagner, who led Washington's defense the past two seasons, will become a free agent when the new league year opens on Wednesday, with no indication that a deal is close.

Heading into free agency, Chenal had been projected at around a two-year, $11 million deal. Washington went well beyond the projection. 

Having never exceeded 53 percent of defensive snaps in a season, Chenal is stepping into a setting where a full workload is actually possible. The door grows wider if Wagner moves on.