It’s not often you find your left tackle after the conclusion of the NFL draft. Fortunately for Washington, the Chicago Bears released longtime left tackle Charles Leno in a salary-cap move after the 2021 NFL draft. The then-Football Team signed the former Pro Bowler to a modest one-year contract.
The reliable Leno started every game for Washington, registering an 81.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which was No. 12 in the NFL for all offensive tackles. Leno allowed just six sacks last season and committed only one penalty.
Leno’s stellar play earned him a three-year contract extension worth $37.5 million in January.
Before Washington signed Leno last May, it had expected to go into the season with veteran Cornelius Lucas and rookie Sam Cosmi competing for the starting position. Leno’s signing ensured Washington had a talented and dependable veteran to protect quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Earlier this offseason, PFF named Leno as Washington’s most underrated player. Now, CBS Sports named the most underappreciated player on every NFC team and Leno was the choice for the Commanders.
Yes, I’m in the mood to give offensive linemen their credit, so let’s move from O’Neill to Leno in Washington. Neither Morgan Moses nor Trent Williams are walking out of that tunnel at FedEx Field in the future, so that leaves it on a player like Leno to step up and fill some rather sizable shoes — literally and figuratively speaking. He’s most remembered for giving up the sack that turned out to end the career (via retirement) of Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he’s much more than that. Is he Williams or Moses? No, but when he’s absent, the Commanders notice. That’s why they awarded him a three-year extension en route to him playing in 100% of the team’s offensive reps in 2021, ending the season as the team’s highest-graded OL and the NFL’s second-highest graded in pass pro — so acknowledge him.
Leno was the steadying force on Washington’s top 10…
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