Tag: alex leatherwood raiders

How the Chicago Bears can fix ex-Raiders first-round project Alex Leatherwood

Alex Leatherwood, the Raiders’ former first-round pick, was claimed by the Bears on Wednesday. Here’s how Chicago can save him from bust status.

The Las Vegas Raiders’ decision to release former first-round offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood as part of final cuts on Tuesday put an official end to one of the worst multi-year draft hauls any team has had in recent NFL history. Under former head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock, the Raiders had a total of five first-round picks from 2019 through 2021. Of the five players picked — Leatherwood in 2021, receiver Henry Ruggs III and cornerback Damon Arnette in 2020, and edge-rusher Clelin Ferrell and running back Josh Jacobs in 2019 — only Jacobs is still with the team, and there was some noise this offseason about Jacobs being on his way out.

Leatherwood didn’t have the history of off-field issues that Ruggs and Arnette did; the Raiders’ decision to release him was based entirely on performance. In his rookie season of 2021, per Pro Football Focus, Leatherwood allowed eight sacks, 17 quarterback hits, and 42 quarterback hurries in 770 pass-blocking snaps. Those 67 total pressures were the most allowed by any offensive lineman last season. Leatherwood was also flagged for 16 penalties; only Connor Williams of the Cowboys, and Oli Udoh of the Vikings had more, with 17 each.

Pre-draft in 2021, I had Leatherwood ranked as the 10th-best offensive tackle in his class, based on his work over four seasons at Alabama. He allowed three sacks and 16 total pressures in 2020, his final season with the Crimson Tide, and that’s what I had to go on.

That the Raiders took Leatherwood in the first round wasn’t a total surprise, given that Tom Cable was the team’s offensive line coach from 2018 through 2021, and Cable has always been able to talk himself into, and grievously overvalue, aggressive blockers with major technical issues. That was certainly the case when Cable laid waste to the Seahawks’ front five in a personnel sense from 2011-2017 as their assistant head coach and offensive line coach.

One of the players I comped Leatherwood to coming out of college was Germain Ifedi, the Texas A&M tackle Seattle selected with the 31st overall pick in the 2016 draft, based on Cable’s recommendation. Like Leatherwood, Ifedi was a glass-eater without much else to work with. Technical excellence would have to come in time. It didn’t in Ifedi’s case, and after trying him at tackle and guard, the Seahawks moved along pretty quickly. They declined Ifedi’s fifth-year option, and the Bears signed him in April of 2020. It didn’t work out, but that doesn’t mean it can’t with Leatherwood.

As it turns out, the Bears picked Leatherwood up with a waiver claim on Wednesday.

Overdrafted by Tom Cable. Washed out with his first team. Gets a second chance with the Bears. Having established that history does indeed repeat itself, how can the Bears, and new offensive line coach Chris Morgan, make the most out of what Leatherwood has to offer… whatever that may be? He may have been a huge overdraft, but there has to be some talent there, right?

As always, the tape doesn’t lie, so let’s start there.

Raiders select Alex Leatherwood: Instant analysis of the No. 17 pick

This is what happens when you put Tom Cable in charge of your offensive line.

With the 17th overall pick, the Las Vegas Raiders select Alex Leatherwood, offensive lineman, Alabama.

Analysis: When Leatherwood gets in his pass set comfortably and gets his hands out to attack, he projects well as an edge protector. Then, he’s able to work through the arc and mirror the defender from side to side. Plus blocker on RPO concepts; he’ll use his power in these and any run-action concepts to just bury defensive tackles at times. Has the potential for great footwork in pass protection, though it’s wildly inconsistent and not seen enough.

As a run-blocker, Leatherwood does a good job of getting his hands into a defender’s numbers and using his upper body to win with leverage. Has the upper-body strength to work defenders back when his technique is sound.

But he’s still getting the hang of his footwork; at times, he’ll over-reach with his steps and leave himself vulnerable to inside counters. Must be more aggressive with his hands to offset the tendency to let defenders into his kitchen. Doesn’t show great recovery speed and technique when he’s beaten off the snap. And you’d like to see more of a finishing mentality at times. IN the end, he might be a guard, and perhaps an average one.

Grade: D. I had Leatherwood as my 10th-ranked offensive tackle, and he would have been about my third or fourth guard. I’m not surprised that the Raiders went with a project after trading away most of their offensive line in the offseason — line coach Tom Cable loves projects at the expense of his offenses — but this it a real head-scratcher.