Las Vegas Raiders draft bust resurfaces with division rival

Mike Moraitis

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Las Vegas Raiders draft bust resurfaces with division rival image

When the Las Vegas Raiders drafted offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the decision was met with no shortage of doubt, as many felt the team was reaching big time for the Alabama product.

And, as it turned out, not only did they reach, the Raiders took a player who had no business being in the NFL at all. After just one lackluster season with the team, Las Vegas cut bait with Leatherwood by waiving him prior to the 2022 campaign.

He was then claimed by the Chicago Bears, who put him on the NFI list after just a few weeks. Leatherwood then had a stint on injured reserve before finally seeing action in four games. He was not brought back the following season.

In 2023, Leatherwood was a member of the Cleveland Browns' practice squad, but he didn't see a single snap over the course of the year and Cleveland did not bring him back, either.

Now, Leatherwood will try his hand with a division rival of the Raiders, as the Los Angeles Chargers signed the free-agent offensive lineman to an undisclosed contract on Wednesday.

We would say that there's a possibility Leatherwood will have a revenge game versus his former team, but there is zero guarantee he'll even be on the roster by Week 1, let alone see snaps in a game.

Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis Photo

After cutting his teeth with Bleacher Report, Mike Moraitis has covered the Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans for FanSided, and the Titans and New York Giants for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. On top of his duties with Sporting News, Mike is the managing editor and lead writer for Titans Wire.