Former Alabama first-round pick signs with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The NFL organization announced on Wednesday that former Alabama All-American Alex Leatherwood has signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Despite spending the full 2023 NFL regular season on the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns, Leatherwood did not play in any games. Since the Browns’ season ended, Leatherwood has been an unrestricted free agent.
Before becoming the 17th pick of the Crimson Tide’s record-tying six first-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, Leatherwood was named unanimously All-American for Alabama’s undefeated CFP national champion team in 2020 and won the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in the country.
During his debut campaign, Leatherwood was the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders in all but one of their games. Playing 1,105 offensive snaps in 2021, Leatherwood lined up at right tackle in his first four NFL games then at right guard for the next thirteen. He started as Alabama’s starting left tackle in 2019 and 2020 and right guard in 2018.
When the Raiders cut Leatherwood from their preseason roster to the 53 players allowed for the regular season on August 31, 2022, they waived him. Even with the full guarantee on his rookie contract, Las Vegas owes Leatherwood around $5.905 million.
The Chicago Bears assumed that responsibility when they were given Leatherwood off waivers the next day.
In 2022, Leatherwood participated in four Bears games. Early in 2022, Leatherwood was sidelined by mononucleosis; he did not return to action until December 4th, during the Bears’ 13th game of the season.
By the end of the 2023 preseason, Leatherwood was waived once more. This time, he joined with Cleveland for practice squad service after no team claimed him.
The terms of Leatherwood’s deal were not disclosed by the Chargers.
Los Angeles’ offseason program consists of nine workouts left before it breaks till training camp.
