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The Kansas City Chiefs have been focused on improving the defensive side of the ball during the 2022 NFL draft.
Four of their five draft selections so far have addressed defensive needs as the team sought to bolster Steve Spagnuolo’s system ahead of the new season. A significant choice in the third round was Wisconsin standout linebacker Leo Chenal. The Chiefs selected Chenal 103rd overall, but he will be expected to make an impact immediately.
A well-known physical linebacker, Chenal is expected to be vital in run defense and the blitz game. He discussed the level of intensity he plans on bringing to Kansas City during last night’s press conference.
“I’m so excited,” Chenal told reporters. “Just coming into a franchise like this, they want to win, want to win, want to win, run it back. I’m just excited to learn more. I’m new to learning about the team, and I’m excited to learn everything I can about the city, about the whole organization, the history, the culture. I’m definitely new and so eager to learn and so excited.”
In 2021, Chenal posted 115 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles for the Wisconsin Badgers. He prides himself on his physicality and desire to administer pain to his opponents.
“People who watch my game know I’m going to be one of the most violent guys on the field at all times,” Chenal said. “Just being physical with every single play that I’m in. The areas where people would say I struggled in college, I’m just going to continue to grow and grow. Freshman year going into college, I was struggling with a lot of the things that you see as my strengths right now. I’m going to continue to grow and adapt and do whatever I can to be the best I can for this defense.”
The transition from being physically imposing in college to the NFL isn’t easy for most, but Chenal is confident. The Chiefs are putting the rest of the league on notice that they are ready to be a shut-down defensive unit moving forward, boasting an aggressive playstyle. Chenal embodies that and could be the new face of it in Kansas City.
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