According to reports from NBC Sports and NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Washington Commanders and linebacker Leo Chenal have agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth $24.75 million. The 25-year-old defender departs the Kansas City Chiefs after four seasons and two Super Bowl titles to join Washington.
Washington is restructuring its defense under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones after finishing the 2025 season with a 5-12 record. Chenal entered the 2026 free agency cycle ranked 20th overall on ProFootballTalk’s list of available players in the sports market.
The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Chenal in the third round of the 2022 draft. Over his four-year tenure in Kansas City, he appeared in 65 games and made 44 starts. His career totals include 218 tackles, seven sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits, one interception, and three forced fumbles.
Buffalo was heavily linked to Chenal during the free agency process. Buffalo’s new defensive coordinator, Jim Leonhard, previously coached Chenal at the University of Wisconsin. Chenal is expected to transition into a primary starting role in the Washington defense this season.