The Eagles have viable replacements on the roster but if the team chooses to look outside the NovaCare Complex, here are seven options that make sense.
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Nov 17, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jason Peters (71) prepares to block against the New England Patriots at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
1. Jason Peters
The free-agent left tackle let it be known last season that he would play guard to extend his career and he’s still one of the most athletic players in the game regardless of position. Peters’s strength, technique, and versatility along with vast experience could allow such a move to make sense.
The Jets need right guard support if they decide to cut Brian Winters. Here are four guards the Jets should avoid when replacing Winters.
The Jets have a decision to make a right guard this offseason.
The team needs to decide whether or not to retain Brian Winters, who has struggled to stay healthy over the past two seasons. By cutting Winters, the Jets would save over $7 million, which would enable Joe Douglas to find his replacement in free agency.
The market for right guards will start heating up with the position being very top-heavy. We at Jets Wire already listed four guards the Jets should target in free agency. Now, here are four guards the Jets should definitely avoid.
Ronald Leary
(Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)
The Broncos are not expected to bring back veteran right guard Ronald Leary on his current deal.
This is the last year on Leary’s contract and it comes with a team option. If the Broncos don’t pick up the option, he becomes a free agent and the team would create $8.5 million in cap space. Still, even with Leary on the market, the Jets shouldn’t be interested in bringing him in to replace Brian Winters, who appears to be an eventual cap casualty himself.
The connections that would lead Leary to New York are set in place. Leary’s former offensive line coach when he was with the Dallas Cowboys, Frank Pollack, is now in the same position on Adam Gase’s staff.
Leary’s stay in Denver was marred with injuries, though. In his first season in the Mile High City, Leary started 11 games at right guard before suffering a back injury and being placed on injured reserve. The following season, Leary was moved to left guard, where he started six games before suffering a torn Achilles. In 2019, Leary only played in 12 games with a concussion shortening his presumable last season in Denver.
With younger and more healthy options on the market, it would be a mistake for the Jets to target Leary as a reclamation project.
