The New York Jets’ free agency approach should be clear: add as many quality starters as possible.
The good news? Gang Green holds over $74 million in cap space, the fourth most in the NFL, which is excellent news for a team that needs to fill a myriad of holes across their depth chart.
One position the team certainly needs to upgrade is linebacker.
Jamien Sherwood is coming off a highly disappointing season that included an in-season benching as a captain, while the team must avoid overpaying their other starter from 2025, Quincy Williams, who ranked among the league’s worst coverage linebackers.
When searching for potential additions to their linebacker room this offseason, the Jets should prioritize value.
Hailing from Kansas City is a free agent who would be an excellent value add to the Jets’ linebacker room.
The Jets should target Leo Chenal in free agency
After being selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft, Leo Chenal has blossomed into a core defensive player for the Kansas City Chiefs over the past few seasons.
In 2025, the two-time Super Bowl champion appeared in 14 games, 12 of which were starts. He totaled 58 total tackles (25 solo), two pass deflections, two sacks, and five quarterback hits.
Beyond that, Chenal’s stellar 72.6 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 10th among 81 qualified linebackers, while his overall defensive grade of 75.1 ranked 17th.
Here is a look at where Chenal’s analytics stack up against Quincy Williams, one of the Jets’ starting linebackers in 2025, whose projected market value this offseason is $9 million, per Spotrac.
Chenal surpassed Williams by a mile in every one of those key categories. Also, keep in mind that Williams is entering his age-30 season, whereas Chenal will turn just 26 in October.
Despite being younger and more productive, Chenal is expected to command a lower price on the open market. Per Spotrac, the Wisconsin product has an estimated market value of $4.6 million, a stark contrast from Williams’ projected $9 million.
The concern with Chenal, which lowers his market value, is that he’s never been an every-down player. The 53% snap percentage that he averaged in 2025 was a career-high. He was at 41% in each of the previous two seasons and 23% in his rookie year. Signing him to be an every-down starter is a projection.
Still, his youth and reliable production makes him a worthwhile gamble.
There is also a case to be made that Chenal is a far better fit for the Jets’ defense under Aaron Glenn than Williams. Historically, Glenn has preferred bigger, more physical linebackers.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, Chenal fits that bill. On the other hand, Williams, who stands at 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds, is more of a speedy, sideline-to-sideline LB.
Chenal profiles as a perfect complement to Jamien Sherwood in the Jets’ LB room and a great fit within the team’s new defensive scheme. If he commands under $5 million per year, as Spotrac expects, pursuing him should be a no-brainer for New York.