Might off-lead be better?

I have a covid pup (I know, I know) so he was never well socialised, although he knows all the tricks and has really good recall. He's a spaniel cross, very clever and very affectionate. He's always desperate to meet other dogs and gets really excited when we see them. I'm always worried about him overwhelming them so I keep him on leash and away from other dogs. But, we have friends with a dog who he's great with, and even ignores after a while. I'm wondering whether I should just let him go with meeting new dogs off leash. If I don't, the problem will never be solved, but what do I do if he gets too much for them and they react?