One of the most puzzling decisions GM Ryan Poles made during his first off-season with the Chicago Bears was claiming Alex Leatherwood off waivers. The former 1st round pick had looked bad during his rookie season in 2021, and it wasn't getting better throughout the 2022 preseason. In 89 snaps, he allowed 12 pressures and two sacks. The Las Vegas Raiders had seen enough. Nobody wanted to trade for him. He might be lucky to land on a practice squad. Then the Bears came swooping in.
Poles felt there was lots of untapped potential in Leatherwood. He had size, length, and athleticism. What he needed was consistent coaching on his raw fundamentals and some stability. Offensive line coach Chris Morgan took up the challenge, moving him around to see where he fit. It wasn't always pretty. Yet the Bears were undeterred. When the 2023 preseason opened, the coaches had clearly made a decision. Leatherwood was a left guard. That is where he would stay. No more moving around.
It appears their work has paid off. In 77 snaps over three games, the 24-year-old has allowed only one pressure on the quarterback. He didn't allow any when the blocks were one-on-one. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the second-highest-graded guard of the preseason.
Alex Leatherwood has finally settled down.
That is often the most critical step for any young player. Once they feel comfortable, improvement tends to follow. He was a left tackle in college. However, it's clear he doesn't have the foot speed necessary to survive at that spot in the NFL. Shifting him to left guard eases that issue while keeping him on a familiar side of the offensive line. At the same time, it takes advantage of his natural size and length. The tape speaks for itself. While not a starter, Leatherwood has positioned himself as a capable backup.
That is a victory from the Bears' perspective. Alex Leatherwood was a lost cause in the eyes of many last year. That is how bad he played. There was no fixing him. Poles felt differently. He's a former offensive lineman himself. He understands how difficult playing it can be. Sometimes, a young man needs time to hone his craft. The amount of progress Leatherwood has made is beyond encouraging.
