For the second time in less than a year, an NFL team has released former first-round draft pick Alex Leatherwood.
The Chicago Bears released the offensive lineman Sunday, almost a year to the day the Las Vegas Raiders released him.
This is not the reality Leatherwood, or NFL scouts, envisioned a couple of years ago. Leatherwood was an absolute beast for the Alabama Crimson Tide, winning the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top interior lineman in 2020. The Raiders picked him No. 17 overall in the 2021 Draft.
Leatherwood started 17 games for the Raiders as a rookie but did not impress and was released in August 2022. The Bears picked him up, but he played only 34 snaps in four games for the team last year, although he did show some promising moments.
According to Bears Wire, the team still owes Leatherwood $4.59 million.
NFL analysts say Leatherwood’s extremely poor technique makes him a liability. The Raiders thought they could fix that issue. So did the Bears. Whether another team will take a chance on the once-promising OL remains to be seen.
NFL fans shared their thoughts on that subject.
Leatherwood is a Trey Lance scale Bust.
In 2021 when he had over 1,104snaps
he was 62nd of 63 qualifying guards at PFF OVR grd, 50% qualifier.
2022 he only had a handful of snaps.— Wildlife Lover (@wildlifeluvr) August 28, 2023
Eagles would get him right
— 🦅 (@HurtsForSix) August 27, 2023
The Bears didn't even draft him 1st round. He was claimed off waivers. No big loss.
— Nick Papageorgio (@mrpapageorg1o) August 27, 2023
#BillsMafia needs to take a flier on Alex Leatherwood https://t.co/4Phf19JDJ8
— x-David Dahl Enthauist (@SuperSenpaiZ) August 28, 2023
Wow, how come this guy can’t even crack being a backup?
— Burt Macklin NY (@BurtyMacklin) August 27, 2023
All time BUST
— PickensBurgh🫡 (Tino) (@PickensBurgh) August 27, 2023
Ooof. Alex Leatherwood got cut. I’m sure he’ll find a team soon.
— Ashish (@ashishaerry) August 28, 2023
