To Be Continued? Cowboys in contact with guard Ron Leary

The Dallas Cowboys are visiting with veteran guard and former Cowboy Ronald Leary.

After a disappointing performance in Week 1, and a number of injuries, before during and since, the Cowboys are searching for help along the offensive line. Dallas entered the season with a couple depth members on season-long injured reserve and starting right tackle La’el Collins on returnable IR. Backup Cam Erving left the season opener and starting left tackle Tyron Smith has missed the last two practices with a neck injury.

It’s gotten to the point the Cowboys must consider moving their guards, Connor Williams and Zack Martin back outside where they played in college. To that extent, and because it’s easier to find interior players then tackles, Dallas is set to visit with former Cowboys guard Ronald Leary, according to a report by ESPN’s Field Yates.

The Cowboys have scheduled a visit with free agent OL Ronald Leary. A familiar face who could potentially help them as they deal with some injuries up front.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 19, 2020

Leary started at left guard for the Cowboys from 2013 through 2016, before joining Denver on a high-priced deal. There was speculation Leary could join earlier Dallas in the off-season, but now it appears there’s a real chance of a reunion. Leary reportedly is undergoing the Covid-19 protocols.

Williams got the first crack at left guard for Dallas, but he struggled against Aaron Donald and the Rams in Week 1. Williams could certainly preform better in the coming weeks when he’s not lined up across Donald, but the addition of Leary could allow Williams to play more tackle, the position he played at the University of Texas. Some believe he is more naturally built for that role, though most projected a move inside for him entering the 2018 draft.

Behind Williams Dallas has 2019 third-round pick Connor McGovern available at guard.

Mike McCarthy recently made it known that both Williams and right guard Zack Martin haven taken snaps at tackle in practice.

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Potential replacements, takeaways from Jon Feliciano injury

Who could replace Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Jon Feliciano?

Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Jon Feliciano will miss a chunk of the upcoming 2020 season. The team’s starting right guard from 2019 suffered a pectoral injury which could require up to three months or more to heal.

Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane have continuously harped on the importance of continuity on their roster. After re-signing Quinton Spain earlier this offseason, the Bills were slated to return all five of their starters on the O-line in 2020.

With Feliciano’s injury, that will no longer be the case for Buffalo, and there will be a ripple-effect for the Bills because of it.

With that, here are six takeaways from Feliciano’s injury:

Bills offensive guard Jon Feliciano. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

How big of a loss?

We know Feliciano is a loss for the Bills, but let’s try to put into context exactly how big of a loss he is. As mentioned, he was a starter for the Bills in his first season with the team in 2019. At right guard, Feliciano was the No. 1 in every game for Buffalo, playing in about 89 percent of snaps.

Already stated was that continuity the Bills had along the offensive line. From last season, things were not going to change in terms of starters along the O-line, most likely, until now. From left to right, the Bills’ line was going to look, once again, like: Dion Dawkins, Spain, Mitch Morse, Feliciano and Cody Ford.

And speaking of Spain, many touted his addition Buffalo’s line a year ago. Just to put things into picture of how big of a loss Feliciano might be, he was actually… better than Spain, in at least one sense. Pro Football Focus is subjective, but per their numbers, Feliciano was the better 2019 lineman. At the end of last season, Spain ranked as their 58th best guard in the NFL while Feliciano was at No. 35 via PFF’s grade.

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7 options for the Eagles to replace Brandon Brooks after he suffered torn Achilles

7 guards the Eagles could have interest in adding to the roster after Brandon Brooks suffers torn Achilles

The Philadelphia Eagles have a glaring hole at right guard and one of the most athletic linemen in NFL history just happens to be unemployed.

The Eagles received devastating news on Monday when it was revealed that Brandon Brooks would miss the entire 2020 NFL season with a torn Achilles tendon.

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.

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Should the Dolphins target free agent guard Ronald Leary?

With the pending trade of Carolina Panthers guard Trai Turner breaking last night, the Miami Dolphins must continue to comb through the free agent market to identify primary targets to help bolster their roster and build arguably their biggest position of weakness (the offensive line) into a strength. They may have just caught a break.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the Denver Broncos will not be exercising their club option of offensive guard Ronald Leary, which will open the door for Leary to hit the open market in less than two weeks time.

Denver is not expected to pick up the contract option on guard Ron Leary, per source. He will become a free agent on March 18.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2020

Should the Dolphins be interested? Of course they should be. Leary has struggled with durability over the course of his three seasons in Denver — he’s started 29 contests over that time span but also missed 19 games. Leary, who is set to turn 31 years old before the start of the 2020 NFL season, is beyond his peak as a player between the injuries and Father Time; but yet he would still be a notable upgrade for the Dolphins when healthy.

How frequently that will be is the big question — and hence will water down his value as teams bid to gather his services in a few weeks. Leary’s value is certainly more affordable than some of the other top names; but the Dolphins must show they’ve learned from lessons past if they’re planning on signing Leary to a contract.

The Miami Dolphins of the past would sign Leary and not look back. The box is checked, the need is addressed — no questions asked. But that approach has burned the Dolphins time and time again. So even if Miami did feel compelled to pay Leary and bring him into the 2020 roster, this team will still need to spend significant resources elsewhere along the line to ensure this group is finally fixed once and for all.

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4 right guards the Jets should avoid in free agency

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

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.

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4 positions Broncos must improve this offseason

The Denver Broncos need to look for upgrades at these four positional groups during the NFL offseason.

The Denver Broncos are a team with many holes on the roster following a 7-9 season. Those holes could grow bigger should certain players leave as free agents.

The team will need to make upgrades at several spots whether that be through free agency or the draft. How the team goes about making those changes remains to be seen, but here, you will be able to read more about the four most important positions of need for the team.

1. Wide receiver

Without any doubt, the Broncos need to look for a player who can provide more productivity at the wide receiver spot.

Courtland Sutton is a terrific No. 1 target, but Tim Patrick won’t cut it as a No. 2, nor will DaeSean Hamilton, though the latter offers some promise.

Sutton caught 72 passes in 2019 and all other wide receivers on the team combined caught 82. That includes 30 for Emmanuel Sanders, who the Broncos traded to the San Francisco 49ers in October.

Sanders finished with the second-most receptions on the team by a wide receiver, which isn’t a great sign.

Guys like Patrick and Hamilton can be nice role players and added depth, but the Broncos need to find a guy who can fill the role once occupied by Sanders.

Peyton Manning had a ton of success with the combination of Sanders and Demaryius Thomas. This is not to say that Drew Lock is Manning, but if the team gave him another serious threat on the outside to go with Sutton and Noah Fant, it would be supplying the young quarterback with enough tools for ultimate success.

2. Interior offensive line

The Broncos should move on from Ronald Leary this offseason. They can do that by declining his club option. In addition, starting center Connor McGovern is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

At least one of those players won’t be with the team next season and the Broncos need to look for replacements.

Dalton Risner had a terrific rookie season, but the Broncos don’t have much depth in the way of an interior lineman that can play guard or center. Ideally, the team should re-sign McGovern and look to free agency or the draft for a replacement for Leary.

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