Can Leo Chenal Improve in Year Two Despite KC Chiefs' Crowded LB Room?
After having two picks in each of the first two rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs only had one selection at their disposal in the third round. Using three of the first four picks on defense didn’t deter general manager Brett Veach and company from looking at another defensive player to take with their fifth pick.
With the 103rd selection, the Chiefs took Leo Chenal, a linebacker from the University of Wisconsin. Chenal was the third linebacker the Chiefs have taken in the past three drafts, joining second-round selections Willie Gay Jr. (2020) and Nick Bolton (2021). The Chiefs rebuilt their linebacker group over the course of three drafts and now have one of the best young linebacker cores in the league.
Chenal was known as a hard-hitter and no-nonsense type of player coming out of college. He was a rotational player during his freshman and sophomore years before jumping into a full-time role and breaking out during his junior season. He started 11 games that season and finished with 115 total tackles, including a whopping 18.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and two forced fumbles. He was also the top pass-rushing linebacker according to Pro Football Focus. This led to Chenal forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL Draft.
With two other young linebackers on the roster and the addition of veteran Jermaine Carter, some wondered what Chenal’s role would be on the 2022 Chiefs. It became very clear the team had big plans for Chenal, as Carter was cut from the team before Week 1 of the season. Chenal was able to jump into the linebacker rotation right away and played a big role on special teams as well.
The jump to the NFL level didn’t seem to phase Chenal at all. He’s a strong and powerful player, and his physicality continued to be showcased as the season went along. He plays with good quickness and has a nose for the football. Chenal finished his rookie regular season with 35 total tackles and one sack — not a bad start for the team’s third linebacker. In the playoffs, he was largely absent during the team’s run through the AFC. However, Chenal saved his best for last and played an unbelievable game against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. He recorded six tackles (including four solo stops) with a sack in the Super Bowl win for the Chiefs.
Mar 4, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal (LB09) talks to the media during the 2022 NFL Combine. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
There’s still plenty of room for Chenal to grow. He needs to get better in pass coverage, which was one of his weak spots coming out of college. There will continue to be a battle for playing time, so he will need to step up his game to get more chances in his second season. The Chiefs still have Bolton and Gay on their roster and brought in former division rival Drue Tranquill to compete as well. Tranquill finished last season with 146 total tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. He also had five tackles and an interception in the Los Angeles Chargers' playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Chenal will have his work cut out for him if he wants to get more playing time.
There is hope for Chenal as he heads into year two. He played well enough to be considered to play at least as much as he did his rookie season, but there will be more competition. In order to make that second-year jump, he will need to show steady growth throughout the offseason and prove himself to the coaches once again. Chenal has the ability to carve out a supporting role for himself and be a playmaker in certain situations. If the team hadn’t added Tranquill to the mix, the path to Chenal having a larger role and a big second-year jump seemed inevitable. Now, it seems more likely he will have to wait at least another year for a featured role in the defense.
Chenal has the potential to be a playmaker on this defense, but the second-year jump might not be as drastic as many are hoping for. Only time will tell, and as training camp and preseason games roll around, he will be front-of-mind as one of the players to keep an eye on before the season starts.
