The Detroit Lions have several decisions to make on their roster ahead of the 2026 season and it could have several players leaving town in the coming weeks. One veteran player who appears to be on the way out is linebacker Alex Anzalone, whose pending departure could be traced back to his contract dispute last offseason.
With the final year of his deal complete, Anzalone will hit the free agent market next month. According to Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports, he may also have a home picked out, noting the “odds are high” that Anzalone reunites with former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn with the New York Jets.
Regardless of where Anzalone ends up, the Lions will need to find a replacement alongside Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes. While free agency comes with some risk, Leo Chenal could be the best answer on the market to fill Anzalone’s role in the present and bring enough potential to bring more in the future.
Lions Use Leo Chenal to Replace Alex Anzalone in Free Agency
Chenal’s four-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs doesn’t signal a bombshell move if he came to Detroit. His career year came during the 2023 season when he made 65 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, and three sacks. His career averages signal that performance may be his ceiling with 57 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and 1.8 sacks.
But Chenal does have some things that could appeal to the Lions. First, he has the size that Campbell wants from his linebackers at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds. By comparison, Anzalone is 6-foot-3 and 234 pounds, while Campbell (6-foot-5, 246 pounds) and Barnes (6-foot, 240 pounds) fit the same prototype.
Chenal’s strengths are also similar to Anzalone's. According to Pro Football Focus, Chenal had a better overall grade (75.1) than Anzalone (67.5) and Barnes (61.5) last season. He also produced well compared to them despite seeing noticeably fewer opportunities to get on the field.
Stats | Leo Chenal | Alex Anzalone | Derrick Barnes |
|---|---|---|---|
Games Played | 14 | 16 | 17 |
Defensive Snaps | 441 | 1,004 | 940 |
Total Tackles | 58 | 93 | 78 |
Sacks | 2.0 | 2.5 | 4.0 |
Passes Defended | 2 | 9 | 3 |
Interceptions | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Although Chenal's quantitative numbers are lower, they also came on 563 fewer snaps than Anzalone, leading to a similar projection had he played the same amount of snaps.
That last part is key. While Chenal missed the final three games of the 2025 campaign due to a shoulder injury that required surgery, those are the only games he’s missed throughout the first four years of his career. It’s also likely that he would be in for an even bigger role in Detroit as Campbell (1,096) and Anzalone (1,003) both played over 1,000 snaps, and Barnes (939) wasn’t far off.
The scheme fit would have some questions to be answered, but Chenal has the versatility to mix in after playing for an attacking defense (albeit a 3-4 scheme) under Steve Spagnuolo. If Chenal is on the field more, his numbers could rise, and with Spotrac projecting him to make $4.6 million annually, there’s value to be had.
While it would be a gamble, Chenal could be worth the price, and it could give the Lions the player they need to replace Anzalone this offseason.