On Tuesday evening, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal signed a three-year, $24.75 million deal with the Washington Commanders, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The Chiefs likely expected Chenal to sign elsewhere, given their other needs and inability to win a bidding war for his services.
Chenal started 44 games over his four seasons with the Chiefs after being drafted in the third round in 2022, which will not be easy to replace. That being said, Kansas City still has veterans Drue Tranquill and Nick Bolton, who will continue to lead the charge at the second level of the defense.
However, general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid must now decide who will take over at the strong-side linebacker spot for the 2026 season. One potential in-house candidate, who could step in and fill Chenal’s shoes, is Jeffrey Bassa, whom Kansas City selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jeffrey Bassa Could Be Next Up to Take Leo Chenal’s Spot
The 23-year-old linebacker was known for his athleticism coming out of the University of Oregon. The Chiefs did not give him much playing time on defense despite appearing in all 17 games. Bassa’s main job was to contribute on special teams, which doesn’t come as a surprise for a Day 3 pick.
However, the Chiefs gave Bassa a longer runway to showcase his skills in their regular-season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 6'2", 235-pound linebacker played a season-high 22 snaps on defense, along with 23 snaps on special teams.
In that game, Bassa recorded two tackles and only gave up one completion for six yards. While he didn’t put up huge stats, it was a good step in the right direction to see what the Chiefs have in the young defender.Â
Looking ahead to next season, Bassa should be the clubhouse leader to replace Chenal, given that Jack Cochrane is an unrestricted free agent and Cooper McDonald, who was in the same boat as him.
The Chiefs will be looking for Bassa, or whoever replaces Chenal in the end, to be good against the run, while also holding their own in pass coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, Chenal had a 76.2 run defense grade (22nd among 88 eligible linebackers) and a 72.6 coverage grade (11th among 88 eligible LBs).
This past season, Chenal allowed 8.5 yards per reception and one receiving touchdown, while allowing opposing QBs an 88.4 passer rating. Granted, it was in high school, but Bassa has experience playing safety, and that background should only help him as he continues to develop in his second year.
Even though Bassa didn’t play often on defense in 2025, there are a lot of traits to love about his game. From his athleticism, allowing him to be a factor from sideline to sideline, to his ability to attack downhill in the running game. The Chiefs will likely bring in some competition for Chenal, but we shouldn’t be shocked if Bassa ends up winning the job.