One of the Washington Commanders‘ many free agency signings was to bring inside linebacker Leo Chenal to the East Coast. Originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, Chenal’s rookie contract came to an end this year, but he wasn’t on the market for long before the Commanders lured him to their side.
Not only did the Commanders add an athletic, versatile linebacker to the starting lineup and rotation, but CBSSports.com says his deal is one of the 10 best bargain buys so far in free agency.
Contract terms: 3 years, $24.25 million ($8.1 million AAV)
Chenal has been a quality starter throughout his career and is still just 25 years old. (He doesn’t turn 26 until October.) He can defend against both the run and the pass and he can play different spots along the front, and in different roles. Dan Quinn should be able to have some fun with him as a movable chess piece.
CBS Sports had parameters for identifying the top 10 value deals, such as considering only players who signed with new teams and allowing only one bargain deal per team, as examples. And with those parameters, combined with how the league views a guy like Chenal and what the Commanders are paying for him, made him one of the best deals that’s been cut so far.
The Commanders have a decent amount of cap space in 2026, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be frugal. Any money they can save for other contracts that still need to be done (like rookie deals) will go a long way toward keeping them under the cap as the offseason wears on.
Chenal’s performance over the next few years will dictate how much his next contract will be, but for now, the Commanders have themselves a fantastic linebacker who didn’t break the bank.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Leo Chenal a top 10 bargain in free agency