Chargers Reportedly Ready To Cut Former 1st Round Draft Pick

The final act of the Los Angeles Chargers Jim Harbaugh-led rebuild is set to happen on Tuesday, August 27th when they must get from 90 players to a 53-player roster. Plenty of hard decisions must take place before the 1 pm deadline.

On Tuesday morning it was reported that one of those decisions has been made. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the team would be moving of from offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood. The Chargers added Leatherwood at the end of May as a potential backup to 2024’s 5th overall pick, Joe Alt.

Chargers Set To Release RT Leatherwood

According to the team’s ‘unofficial’ depth chart , Leatherwood was the only depth at right tackle. But the Chargers tested Tyler McClellan and Foster Sarell at the position. McClellan was carted off the field during the final preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Depending on McClellan’s injury status, the Chargers will likely sign another tackle before the season starts. They will have access to most released players with the fifth position on the waiver wire.

After his college career with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Leatherwood was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders 17th overall in the 2021 NFL draft. He was waived a year and a half later. He was picked up by the Chicago Bears as a backup, playing just 32 snaps in 2022. He was released the following year. He spent 2023 on the Cleveland Browns practice squad until his contract expired in January of 2024.

Leatherwood was given the second most playing time among Chargers offensive linemen during the three-week preseason. He was given the worst pass-blocking grade of the lot. He allowed the most quarterback pressures with 11. That was tied for most in the NFL preseason.

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