Chicago Bears release former first-round pick Alex Leatherwood

The Chicago Bears are moving on from offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood, according to league insider Ian Rapoport. The first-round pick for the Raiders spent one season with the Bears following his release from Las Vegas last preseason.

In three preseason games for the Bears, Leatherwood allowed just one pressure on the quarterback while at left guard.

Leatherwood was the third first-round pick the Raiders cut since 2020, including fellow former Alabama standout Henry Ruggs III and Damon Arnette. His career in Las Vegas was brief and disappointing, but still very profitable. He signed his four-year rookie deal for $14.39 million.

After starting the first four games of the 2021 season at left tackle and recording the lowest pass-blocking grade of any rookie tackle since 2006, Leatherwood changed positions. Then-head coach Jon Gruden tried the former No. 17-overall pick at right guard, instead of right tackle.

Despite a rocky start to his NFL career, at just 24 years old, the Florida native has a lot of football ahead of him.

The NFL’s deadline this year for cutting rosters down from 90 men to just 53 is on Aug. 29. Teams must reduce their rosters before 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. After the final cuts, teams will designate an additional 16 players for the practice squad.

Bears moving forward after three-win 2022 season

Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles believes that the franchise is right on the cusp of making the turn back toward success.

“(We’re) excited, really excited,” Poles said on the Rich Eisen Show this month. “You can see the difference from year one to year two. Guys are starting to understand concepts and schemes and are playing faster. Young guys know what they’re supposed to be doing.”

“And then the additions that we’ve made? You can see those guys making plays on a daily basis, both on the offensive side and defensive side,” said Poles.

Chicago has won just nine games over the past two seasons. In 2022, they finished the year with one of their worst records in franchise history as they went 3-14. Still, Poles sees progress and believes in the changes that are being made. They now just have to show that step forward on the field this season and then, from there, start competing for their ultimate goals.

“It’s a fun time,” Poles added. “We’re getting better, we’re taking that next step which, obviously, should be to more wins. And, eventually, sustaining success and winning championships here in Chicago.”

On3’s Sam Gillenwater contributed to this report.