WFT To Sign Charles Leno
The Washington Football Team has agreed to sign former Bears left tackle Charles Leno (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Once finalized, it’ll be a one-year deal for $5MM. 
The Bears cut Leno earlier this month after investing a second-round pick in tackle Teven Jenkins. Washington, meanwhile, chose Texas tackle Samuel Cosmi in Round 2. Cosmi may be the long-term solution at LT, but they’ll ease him into the role with Leno as the stopgap starter.
Washington hasn’t had a solid left tackle since things went south with Trent Williams. Leno isn’t on Williams’ level, but he has been an LT starter for the past six seasons, serving as Chicago’s blindside protector from 2015-20. Pro Football Focus graded Leno as a top-25 tackle in three of the past four seasons, including the 2020 season. He’s durable, too; Leno hasn’t missed a game since his rookie year.
The Broncos also had Leno on their radar as they look to replace the injured Ja’Wuan James. Now, they’ll consider other veterans such asBobby Massie, Dennis Kelly, Jermaine Eluemunor and Cameron Fleming.
Bills To Meet With Eli Ankou
The Bills are set to meet with defensive tackle Eli Ankou, according to Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 (Twitter link). Ankou, who stands at 6’3” and weighs 327 pounds, could provide depth and run-stuffing help in Buffalo.
Ankou, who won’t turn 27 until next month, has already spent time with five different NFL teams. His last stop was with the Cowboys, after the Texans shipped him mid-season in exchange for a seventh-round pick. In 2020 alone, Ankou spent time with three different teams, going from the Colts to the Texans to the Cowboys.
Ankou notched five tackles in seven games for Dallas last year. For the most part, the former undrafted free agent out of UCLA has served as a special teams player, though he did notch 1.5 sacks as a rookie in Jacksonville.
The Bills already boast a solid interior, headlined by Ed Oliver and Vernon Butler plus Harrison Phillips and Star Lotulelei.
Packers Tried To Claim LS Matt Orzech
The Packers attempted to claim long snapper Matt Orzech, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). However, the Rams had higher priority in the order due to their 10-6 finish. The Packers, meanwhile, went 13-3 (and nearly reached the Super Bowl).
[RELATED: Titans Cut Orzech, Orchard]
Orzech, a 2019 undrafted free agent, saw 16 games as a rookie with the Jaguars. In 2020, he had stints with the Jaguars and Dolphins before landing with the Titans’ practice squad. On Monday, the Titans waived him along with linebacker Nate Orchard and tight end Parker Hesse.
Meanwhile, the Packers have bigger fish to fry. Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers still wants out and the Packers continue to insist that he’ll stay put. Still, the Broncos believe that they can swing a trade for Rodgers — especially since the other potential suitors have found other solutions at QB.
Dolphins Tried To Claim Kerryon Johnson
The Dolphins submitted a claim for Kerryon Johnson, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Unfortunately for them, the Eagles also submitted a claim for the former Lions running back, and they had the higher priority.
Miami has already invested a bit in the RB group this year, adding Malcolm Brown in free agency and drafting Gerrid Doaks in the seventh round. Meanwhile, they already have Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed, Patrick Laird, and Jordan Scarlett on the roster. Their move for Johnson indicates that they could still explore backfield options between now and the fall.
Johnson, a 2018 second-round pick, was been slowed by injuries in his early seasons. However, he returned to play in 16 games last year. The Eagles hope that he can stay on the field and get back to his rookie form, when he averaged 5.4 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns, up until the first of two serious knee injuries.
Instead of taking his talents to South Beach, Johnson joins an Eagles group that includes Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Jordan Howard, and fifth-round rookie Kenneth Gainwell.
Cardinals Give Jordan Hicks Permission To Seek Trade
The Cardinals have given Jordan Hicks permission to seek a trade (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The veteran linebacker could still stay on board as a reserve, but his starting job as the MIKE ‘backer has been given to new first-round pick, Zaven Collins. 
It’s not a shock to hear that Collins, the No. 16 overall pick in last month’s draft, is ticketed for the starting lineup. Still, Hicks is a respected figure in the locker room and he’s already taken a pay cut to make the numbers work.
Originally, he was set to have a $9MM cap charge with a $5MM base salary plus bonuses. Now, the 28-year-old (29 in June) is ticketed for a base salary of $2MM with $1MM in per-game bonuses this year for a lighter figure of $6MM. Hicks also reduced his 2022 compensation to a $4.25MM base salary, plus a $750K roster bonus and $1MM in per-game roster bonuses.
Hicks, a former third-rounder, spent the first four seasons of his career with the Eagles before signing a four-year, $36MM deal ($20MM guaranteed) with the Cardinals in 2019. Since then, he’s started all 32 games for Arizona over the past two years, compiling 268 stops, 11 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
As Rapoport notes, however, a trade is not terribly likely (video link). He believes Hicks will indeed remain in the desert in 2021 as a backup.
Broncos To Sign OT Ryan Pope
The Broncos are set to sign offensive tackle Ryan Pope (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). Pope agreed to terms shortly after his Tuesday workout, though the team will still consider other options after their Wednesday session.
Dennis Kelly, Cameron Fleming, and Bobby Massie are among the veteran tackles who will audition for the Broncos this week. The team has cast a wide net ever since Ja’Wuan James‘ season-ending injury, though they’re unlikely to find a long-term solve at this stage of the offseason. Former Bears starter Charles Leno is also available as of this writing, though he may be ticketed for the Washington Football Team instead.
Pope, a 6’7″, 315-pound blocker, has made the rounds since leaving San Diego State, but he has yet to see live action in the NFL. Last year, he missed the Jaguars’ final cut and spent the bulk of the year on the Packers’ practice squad.
Broncos To Host Jermaine Eluemunor
The Broncos’ right tackle seminar will also include Jermaine Eluemunor, according to Matt Lombardo of FanSided (Twitter link). The former Patriot will compete alongside Dennis Kelly, Bobby Massie, and Cameron Fleming as the Broncos look for help up front.
[RELATED: Broncos Meet With Cameron Fleming]
Eluemunor started out as a 2017 fifth-round pick of the Ravens. After starting in two games as a rookie and one game as an NFL soph, they traded him to the Patriots for a low-round draft choice. At that point, the Texas A&M product shifted from guard to right tackle and saw eight starts in 2020.
The Broncos are leaving no stone unturned as they look to replace Ja’Wuan James. Massie may be the most attractive option of the bunch, though he’s had injury trouble of his own. Last year, his season was cut short by a knee injury. And, in 2019, he was limited by an ankle issue. In total, he was limited to 64 games (all starts) for the Bears across the last five seasons.
Broncos Meet With Cameron Fleming
The Broncos are set to meet with Cameron Fleming, as Mike Klis of 9News tweets. He’ll show his stuff alongside Dennis Kelly and Bobby Massie as the Broncos look for solutions at right tackle.
Fleming started 16 games for the Giants last year. However, the G-Men let him walk after his one-year, $3.5MM deal expired. Before that, Fleming spent four seasons in New England and two in Dallas playing under Joe Judge and Jason Garrett. From 2017-2020, Fleming played between 230-400 snaps per season, working as a part-time starter throughout that stretch. If all goes well, the former fourth-round pick could spend his age-29 season in Denver.
Ja’Wuan James‘ latest injury has left the Broncos searching high and low for answers. The Broncos furnished James with a four-year, $51MM deal in 2019. Unfortunately, between knee trouble, a 2020 opt-out, and his new Achilles tear, James has seen just 63 snaps as a Bronco.
Falcons Cut K Elliott Fry
The Falcons have released kicker Elliott Fry, per a club announcement. Now, Younghoe Koo currently stands as the only kicker on Atlanta’s roster. 
Fry, a South Carolina product, spent time in the short-lived Alliance of American Football before signing a string of NFL deals. After stints with the Bears, Ravens, Panthers, and Buccaneers he joined the Falcons’ taxi squad last year. He appeared in one game, making one field goal plus two extra point tries.
In college, Fry converted on 66 of 88 field goal attempts. He was expected to vie for the Falcons’ job this year, though he was a longshot to beat out Koo. Koo, a 2020 Pro Bowler, nailed 37 of 39 FG tries while nailing 33 of 36 XPs.
Patriots’ Cameron McGrone To Miss Season?
The Patriots might not see fifth-round pick Cameron McGrone on the field until next year. Due to the torn ACL he suffered late last year, the Michigan linebacker may have to shift his focus to 2022, according to head coach Bill Belichick.
“We’re not really sure what the expectation of availability is for him, but we’re prepared certainly to not have him available this year,” Belichick said (via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com). “There are no false expectations here. He should have a good recovery and be a good player; we’ll just have to see what the timing is on that.”
The Patriots tapped McGrone with the knowledge that his rehab could take a while. They’ve also backstopped their LB group by signing Harvey Langi, so they’re prepared to wait, if necessary. As Reiss notes, the Patriots have drafted injured players in the past and some have panned out pretty well. That includes 1995 third-rounder Curtis Martin, who would later amass a Hall of Fame career with the Jets.
McGrone, the No. 177 overall pick, played in just 16 total games for the Wolverines. Up until his knee injury against Rutgers, he recorded 91 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble between 2019 and 2020.