Commanders struck gold on free agency signing of Leo Chenal after contract details emerge
The Commanders land a pivotal player in their defense after signing free agent LB Leo Chenal, and his contract details magnify the cost to get him.
The Washington Commanders had a clear goal of improving the defense in free agency, and after addressing the defensive line, they look to bolster the next level.
General manager Adam Peters dropped a bag on Odafe Oweh to fix the pass rush, and then he answered the next biggest question on defense. We didn’t know who would be starting at linebacker next season, and if Bobby Wagner would return or not, but the Commanders decided to get younger.
After passing on bigger names like Devin Lloyd and Quay Walker, the Commanders landed a young, ascending LB in Leo Chenal, who will fit the defense perfectly, but at what cost?
Leo Chenal’s contract details with the Commanders emerge
The Commanders decided to continue their trend to get younger and faster on defense, and Chenal has a great opportunity to thrive in Washington. Peters signed him to a three-year, $24.75 million contract, but that didn’t tell the whole story.
Chenal’s full contract details have emerged, and it makes his signing look even better for the Commanders. According to Spotrac, Chenal will be making $12.4 million guaranteed and only has a salary cap space hit of $4.32 million in 2026.
His cap hit goes up to $9.9 million in 2027, and there’s a possible out of his contract in 2028, which would make his contract a two-year $16.5 million contract. I don’t see him getting released after two years, but more like an extension to keep him around.
Chenal is just 25 years old, and the Commanders are getting a young LB playing at a high level at a very reasonable cost, which will only age like wine as time passes. This was an A+ signing by Peters, and an even better job getting him at this cost.
Leo Chenal will be one of the best signings in the Adam Peters era
Chenal fills the need at LB, but he also becomes one of the best young players on defense, and a player worth building around for the future. The Commanders have had the oldest roster in the NFL, but we also saw how unstable it was behind Jayden Daniels.
The defense didn’t have a superstar to build around, but now Chenal and Oweh could be two key pieces for the long-term future of the Commanders. The Chiefs loved Chenal and preached how valuable he was to their team, and now he can do the same in Washington.
Washington Commanders News
Commanders 2026 NFL Free Agency Tracker: Every free agent signing, in-house return, and release made by Washington
Every move the Commanders make during the 2026 NFL free agency period, including big-splash signings, in-house returns, and surprise releases.
