The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to finish the 2025 season strong, but overwhelming attention has shifted to the 2026 campaign. There will be questions regarding how the Chiefs retool this roster, as several players are entering free agency, including LB Leo Chenal.
Chenal is slated to be an unrestricted free agent and made a post on Instagram that led fans to believe that he could be on his way out. He put up a season recap with the caption, "If this was the last time."
While we are months away from free agency, nothing stops the speculation from happening, and this is the latest example of that. All this post accomplished was adding more fuel to the fire that Chenal could be gone this offseason.
Leo Chenal’s Instagram Post Adds Smoke to His Potential Departure
The Chiefs have some maneuvering to do this offseason in terms of creating cap space. Per Overthecap.com, Kansas City will be $44 million over the cap in 2026 and will need to make some roster cuts and reconstruct certain contracts to create cap space.
And considering they gave Nick Bolton a three-year, $45 million deal last offseason, there's a good chance they don't hand out more money to another linebacker. This is especially true given that this team has several other holes on the roster, including running back, defensive line, and cornerback, to name a few.
Since arriving in Kansas City back in 2022, Chenal has been a consistent contributor to this defense. In 65 career games (44 starts), he has amassed 218 total tackles, 17 TFLs, 16 QB hits, three forced fumbles, and seven sacks.
Although he has room left to grow as a pass defender, as shown by the dip in production from 2024 to 2025, Chenal has consistently been a solid defender against the run for this unit.
Leo Chenal 2023 | Leo Chenal 2024 | Leo Chenal 2025 |
|---|---|---|
PFF Run Defense Grade: 79.2 | PFF Run Defense Grade: 90.2 | PFF Run Defense Grade: 76.2 |
While Chenal's grade can still change over the next three games, he provides the Chiefs with a solid floor as a run stopper at the second level. He entered the league as a third-round pick in 2022 and has developed into a quality starter.
There will be multiple teams interested in Chenal's services this offseason, and if the price is right, there's a good chance he will head elsewhere. According to Spotrac, his market value is listed at $4.7 million per year, projecting him to land a three-year, $14 million contract.
The Chiefs have some difficult choices to make, but with Patrick Mahomes rehabbing his torn ACL and LCL, their approach this offseason will be different than years past. And that could lead to several players leaving for other opportunities within the league, including Chenal.