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The Denver Broncos have a decision to make on the future of their linebacking corps. Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are scheduled to hit free agency. Additionally, several rumors have floated out that Dre Greenlaw could potentially be one-and-done in the Mile High City.
Fortunately, this year’s free agent group and draft class talent at the position are deep. The Broncos will have a lot of options to consider if they are looking to revamp their room. We have covered a few players thus far, but another to watch for is Kansas City linebacker Leo Chenal. Let’s take a look at why he would be smart for Denver to consider adding in free agency.
Player Profile
Linebacker | Leo Chenal | Kansas City Chiefs
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 250 pounds
Age: 25 years old
Experience: 4 NFL seasons
2025 stats: 14 games with 12 starts. 58 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 5 quarterback hits.
Should the Broncos sign linebacker Leo Chenal?
Chenal is definitely a player Denver should have interest in bringing in. He has the size and athleticism teams covet at the position. In four years with the Chiefs, he has played in 65 games with 44 starts as their strongside linebacker. His snap share was significantly less compared to Drue Tranquill and Nick Bolton, but he still made an impact on the field for their defense.
The former Wisconsin Badger standout has notched 218 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles to date. Over four seasons of play, he has totaled 1,590 defensive snaps with the most in a single season being 53-percent in ’25. On top of that, Chenal has been a core special teams’ player with 1,108 snaps logged to date.
His missed tackle rate has been under 5-percent the past three seasons. That is a large improvement over most linebackers Denver has fielded the past few years. In pass coverage, Chenal has given up 410 yards, two touchdowns, and 46 completions thus far in his career. For perspective, PFR credits Alex Singleton for giving up 629 yards and 54 receptions last year with the Broncos.
Pro Football Focus ranked Chenal as their 18th-best ranked linebacker in 2025 with an overall grade of 75.1. He ranked 11th in coverage and 22nd against the run. Overall, he is a well-rounded player that could very well have his best years of football ahead of him. Spotrac projects him to earn around $5 million a season, which seems relatively low considering his upside. However, he is coming off a season-ending shoulder injury, so perhaps that factors into their equation.
Why the Broncos will not sign Leo Chenal in free agency.
I can’t think of many reasons the Broncos would outright avoid pursuing him in free agency. A big factor in their equation will be whether or not they project him to be someone who can take a substantial leap in snaps logged. Singleton and Strnad accounted for 1,500 snaps last season. Chenal has never played more than 450 defensive snaps in a season. A big part of that is due to how their defense is structured. How Denver’s defensive coaching staff, in particular Vance Joseph feel about his long-term upside will be key. For whatever it’s worth, I think they will like him.
Final Thoughts
As mentioned earlier, there are a lot of different players available in free agency and the draft that Denver could bring into the fold. Chenal may not be the top-ranked option out there. Nevertheless, he has proven to be an effective player in the reps he has been given and also offers special teams experience. It also wouldn’t be a bad idea to take away a good player from a longtime division rival. I think there are preferable options out there, but would be fine with Chenal joining the Broncos.
What do you think, Broncos Country? How would you feel about Denver adding Leo Chenal to their linebacker corps? Sound off in the comments section and let me know what you think.