Browns Hope To Sign G Ronald Leary

The Browns brought in Ronald Leary for a Wednesday visit and hope to sign the veteran guard, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Leary spent the past three seasons with the Broncos and has been a starter for Denver and Dallas in an eight-year career. The Broncos cut the experienced blocker earlier this year, declining the option on the final year of his contract. In 2017, Leary signed a four-year, $36MM deal with the Broncos.

The 31-year-old lineman struggled with injuries in Denver, failing to finish the season in each of his three years with the team. He did play in 12 games last season, however, and did so after battling back from a torn Achilles’ tendon. Pro Football Focus rated Leary as a lower-end guard in both 2018 and ’19 but viewed him as a top-20 player at the position in 2016 and ’17.

Cleveland employs well-paid guard Joel Bitonio but lacks experience opposite its longtime interior-line starter. Leary would add a veteran presence — either as the Browns’ starting right guard or an experienced swing man — to the team’s line.

The Browns lost four offensive linemen, including three guards, to opt-out decisions last week. Cleveland’s $40MM in cap space leads the NFL by a wide margin. Former Bills backup Wyatt Teller started nine games at right guard for the Browns last season. PFF graded Teller 58th among guards. Adding Leary would seemingly give the Browns three new O-line starters this year, with the team already paying up for right tackle Jack Conklin and using a first-round pick on left tackle Jedrick Wills.

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