Leo Chenal’s departure leaves one last man standing from Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach’s 2022 NFL Draft class
The Chiefs’ 2022 NFL Draft class earned their payday, but only one player from it remains in Kansas City.
Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach’s 10-man 2022 NFL Draft class helped spark back-to-back Super Bowl titles and three consecutive Super Bowl appearances for the organization from 2022-2024. That group rightfully earned their paydays, but the latest NFL news means that only one will have earned a bag in Kansas City.
According to multiple reports, Chiefs LB Leo Chenal will sign a three-year, $24.75M contract with the Washington Commanders. With the amount of salary cap space the Chiefs have tied up at linebacker, this was always going to be a tough one for Kansas City to get done in order to retain one of their own.
Chenal’s departure means that 8 of 10 players from the 2022 NFL Draft class have now joined new teams, and only one remains under contract with the Chiefs.
George Karlaftis is the last man standing of Chiefs GM Brett Veach’s 2026 NFL Draft class
In total, the Chiefs’ 2022 NFL Draft class has earned 338 million in new money during this free agency period. George Karlaftis is the only one extended by the team on a four-year, $88 million deal, which looks cheap compared to some of the contracts handed out to edge rushers this cycle.
- Round 1, Pick 21: CB Trent McDuffie – Traded to the Rams
- Round 2, Pick 30: DE George Karlaftis – Extended in 2025
- Round 2, Pick 54: WR Skyy Moore – Traded to 49ers, signed by Packers
- Round 2, Pick 62: S Bryan Cook – Signed by Bengals
- Round 3, Pick 103: LB Leo Chenal – Signed by Washington
- Round 4, Pick 135: CB Josh Williams – Signed by Titans
- Round 5, Pick 145: OT Darrian Kinnard – Traded to Eagles, signed by Packers
- Round 7, Pick 243: CB Jaylen Watson – Signed by Rams
- Round 7, Pick 251: RB Isiah Pacheco – Signed by Lions
- Roound 7, Pick 259: DB Nazeeh Johnson – Free Agent
Technically speaking, Nazeeh Johnson could still re-sign with the team and join Karlaftis, as he remains an unrestricted free agent. As of now, Karlaftis is the last man standing, with thousands of offensive, defensive, and special-teams snaps from the past four years now walking out the door.
Leo Chenal’s departure gives the Chiefs a compensatory pick in 2027
The good news about Chenal’s departure is that it puts Kansas City back in the running for a compensatory pick. At least for now. OverTheCap compensatory pick expert Nick Korte says Chenal’s departure will be canceled out by the signing of S Alohi Gilman. However, this opens up the pick for Jaylen Watson. The comp pick would be a borderline fourth- or fifth-rounder, ultimately determined by factors like playing time percentage or accolades for Watson.
Kansas City Chiefs News
Grading the signing: Khyiris Tonga gives Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive line something they’ve been missing
Khyiris Tonga makes the Kansas City Chiefs a better team in several ways.
