The Kansas City Chiefs made several significant changes to their roster during the offseason.
That is especially true on the defensive side of the ball. They lost a total of six starters, including at least one at each level (defensive line, linebacker, secondary).
The Chiefs have replaced some with newly signed free agents, but are also banking on a few of their inexperienced players to step up and take the next step in their development.
Kansas City Chiefs LB Nick Bolton Specifically Points out Cooper McDonald to Step up in Place of Leo Chenal
Soobum Im/GettyChiefs LB Cooper McDonald
Several Chiefs players are at the facilities this week for Phase 1 of the offseason workout program. Among them is Bolton, who spoke to the media on Tuesday. When asked about Chenal’s departure, Bolton said that the defense will miss him, but pointed to McDonald as a guy who could step up and fill that void.
“Very first day he was here, he brought physicality,” Bolton said of Chenal. “That’s what he brought to the defense, to our side of the ball. We’re definitely going to miss him. With that being said, I think we did a great job bringing in competition. Coops (Cooper McDonald) did a great job when Leo couldn’t play the last game of the season — or maybe the last two games of the season — coming in and playing and filling that void for us. I think a lot of young guys will come in and play a lot. It’s our job as vets, and coaches as well, to get them to the place we they need to be. But, I’m excited for the guys we’ve got in the building for sure.”
McDonald signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent after a successful rookie minicamp tryout last offseason. He continued to impress during training camp and preseason, earning himself a spot on the 53-man roster. McDonald appeared in all 17 games in 2025, mostly playing special teams (289 snaps).
As Bolton alluded to, McDonald got the start for Chenal in the last game of the season as Chenal was injured. McDonald recorded seven total tackles in that game, just two behind Bolton’s team-leading nine. Whether McDonald ultimately wins the starting job left behind by Chenal or not, it seems that he will certainly be in the mix.
Other LB Options to Replace Leo Chenal
Getty ImagesChiefs LB Jeffrey Bassa
Bolton and Drue Tranquill have their starting spots secured, but strong-side linebacker is wide open. The Chiefs did not address the position during free agency, potentially signaling that they are comfortable with what they have. However, they could always use one of their nine 2026 NFL Draft picks on one to increase depth and competition.
Options that are already on the roster besides McDonald include Jack Cochrane, Cole Christiansen, and Jeffrey Bassa. Cochrane and Christiansen are veterans that have mostly been core special teams players. Bassa also mostly played special teams during his rookie year in 2025, seeing just 39 snaps on defense.
Kansas City hosted Cincinnati Bearcats LB Jack Dingle on a top-30 visit in March, who projects to be a late-round draft pick or possibly even a UDFA. A very intriguing scenario would be if the Chiefs traded up in the draft to select Ohio State LB Arvell Reese, who they also brought in for a pre-draft visit. If they do end up taking Reese, he could either fill Chenal’s spot, or switch to defensive end.
Chiefs LB Nick Bolton Advocates for Leo Chenal’s Replacement