Rodney McLeod

AFC North Notes: Browns, Monken, Ravens

With Jim Schwartz returning to Cleveland after 28 years, then as a scout, now as defensive coordinator, there are some expected changes to how the Browns‘ defense will get things done. Thanks to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, we have a bit of insight into just how things might change in the secondary under Schwartz.

At safety, the team exchanged starter John Johnson III with Juan Thornhill while also bringing in veteran Rodney McLeod, as well. Schwartz brings two interesting factors to the safety position: he likes to play three at one time often and he expects versatility. He doesn’t strictly prescribe to free and strong safety assignments but more often tends to focus on sides of the field. Grant Delpit, Thornhill, and McLeod will be interchangeable and will be asked to line up in many areas.

Versatility will be expected of the cornerbacks, as well, as Schwartz has reportedly been crosstraining all of Cleveland’s defensive backs in the slot. This is welcome news for Greg Newsome II, who reportedly wanted to play more to his strengths on the outside this year. He won’t solely work outside, but with Denzel Ward and Martin Emerson also getting work as nickelbacks this summer, Newsome won’t be asked to shoulder the load in the slot alone.

Here are a few more rumors from around the AFC North:

  • Schwartz is excited to be bringing together two strong pass rushers in Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith on the Browns’ defensive line, according to Cabot. After a year in which Jadeveon Clowney failed to mesh with Garrett, Schwartz is excited about the flexibility that Smith brings to the table. For one, he’s already had the experience of working across from talented pass rushers like Danielle Hunter, Preston Smith, Matt Judon, Terrell Suggs, and Elvis Dumervil. Secondly, Smith provides a versatile attack that allows him to rush from either side, as well as from the interior, when needed.
  • After four years under a huddle-first Greg Roman offense, the Ravens will allow quarterback Lamar Jackson a bit more agency in the offense under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. According to a report from ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Jackson will be given more freedom to audible and make adjustments at the line this season. This is not completely foreign to the recently extended quarterback. Baltimore experimented with this type of offense in a Week 2 game last year against the Dolphins as a counter to Miami’s pressure package. In that game, Jackson threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns while adding 119 yards and a touchdown on the ground, as well. The Ravens will hope to see more of that in 2023, as Jackson is presented with more opportunities to truly lead the offense.
  • We mentioned about two weeks ago that Ravens second-year tackle Daniel Faalele was a candidate to replace former starting left guard Ben Powers, who departed for Denver in free agency in March. Knowing Faalele’s importance in his current role as one of the team’s primary backup tackles, we boiled it down to a battle between Ben Cleveland and John Simpson. A recent report from Hensley, though, claims that head coach John Harbaugh spoke highly of Faalele at the position and refused to rule him out as a potential starter. He praised Simpson’s performance in the position, as well, but it may be time to start considering Faalele as one of the top candidates to start next year.

Browns To Sign S Rodney McLeod

The Browns will give Rodney McLeod an opportunity to play a 12th NFL season. The veteran safety agreed to terms with Cleveland on Thursday, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com tweets.

A longtime Eagles starter, McLeod spent last season with the Colts. While Indianapolis used a third-round pick on a safety (Nick Cross), McLeod held off the rookie and started 15 games in 2022. McLeod will join a Browns team that added Juan Thornhill to a position group housing former second-rounder Grant Delpit.

McLeod, who is heading into his age-33 season, played for new Browns DC Jim Schwartz in Philadelphia. McLeod’s Eagles run overlapped with Schwartz’s five-year stay as Philly’s DC. McLeod (138 career starts) will certainly supply the Browns with experience and scheme familiarity. Browns GM Andrew Berry also stopped through Philly during McLeod’s tenure.

The Eagles signed McLeod shortly after hiring Schwartz in 2016. The 5-foot-11 defender ended up making 62 starts during Schwartz’s time as DC, becoming one of the team’s secondary cornerstones alongside Malcolm Jenkins. McLeod played every Eagles defensive snap during their 2017 postseason run to Super Bowl LII. While that was five years ago, McLeod showed last season he still has gas in the tank. Pro Football Focus ranked McLeod as the No. 7 overall safety in 2022; this placement included the second-best coverage grade among safeties.

Indianapolis managed to land McLeod for just $1.77MM. Although the Colts’ higher-profile issues overshadowed McLeod’s season, the former Rams UDFA made a career-high 96 tackles; his eight tackles for loss more than doubled his previous-best figure. McLeod added two interceptions — one returned for a touchdown during the Colts’ season finale — to run his career total to 18. The Colts will now move on from both the 30-somethings in their defensive backfield; McLeod’s departure comes two months after the team traded Stephon Gilmore to the Cowboys.

Cleveland experienced a number of issues on defense last season. Miscommunications frequently limited the Browns, helping lead to DC Joe Woods‘ ouster. Through this lens, the team bringing in an ex-Schwartz charge stands to assist its younger players in learning a new scheme.

The Browns released John Johnson after two seasons and have not re-signed Ronnie Harrison, a three-year Cleveland contributor. Delpit represents the only notable returner at this position, and it is safe to expect Thornhill — given a three-year, $21MM deal that includes $14MM guaranteed at signing — to be a starter. The Browns have used three safeties often in recent years; McLeod coming in gives the team this option again in 2023.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/27/22

Today’s minor NFL transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: OL Keenan Forbes, G Eric Wilson

Colts Place LB Darius Leonard On PUP List

The Colts have placed linebacker Darius Leonard on the PUP list, as Stephen Holder of ESPN.com writes. This was the expected move after Leonard underwent back surgery in June.

It seems that a nerve issue in Leonard’s back caused the ankle pain that ailed him throughout the 2021 season and continued to give him trouble this spring (despite the fact that he had the ankle operated on in June 2021). Per Holder, the team has not indicated when Leonard will return to the field, but the most recent reporting on the matter suggested that he would be available near the start of training camp, which opens this week.

Despite the injury concerns, Leonard performed at his usual stellar level in 2021, earning his third First Team All-Pro bid in his fourth professional season. Pro Football Focus assigned him a 79.0 overall grade, which was the sixth-highest mark among all qualified LBs and Leonard’s best showing since 2018, when he led the league with 163 total tackles and earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

The centerpiece of Indianapolis’ defense, Leonard offers considerable playmaking ability along with his tackling acumen. He has accrued 11 interceptions and 17 forced fumbles in his career, including four picks and an NFL-best eight FFs last season. His efforts landed him a five-year, $99.25MM extension last August, which made him the highest-paid off-ball ‘backer in league history in terms of AAV. Obviously, his health will be one of the Colts’ primary concerns heading into the 2022 season.

Joining Leonard on the PUP list are defensive end Tyquan Lewis, safety Rodney McLeod, and wideout Mike Strachan. DT Eric Johnson, a fifth-round rookie, is on the NFI list.

Colts S Khari Willis Announces Retirement

A Colts starting safety for most of the past three seasons, Khari Willis informed the team he will retire from the NFL. Willis intends to pursue a ministry career, he said (via Instagram).

The Colts had excused Willis from their minicamp last week, and he had also missed their OTAs. Willis, who became eligible for a contract extension in January, will walk away from the league after just three seasons.

This represents a blow to the Colts’ defense. Willis, 26, had started 33 of the 39 career games he played. After breaking into Indianapolis’ starting lineup as a rookie, Willis was a first-string regular over the past two seasons. He intercepted four career passes, including two last season, and made 219 career tackles.

The Colts traded up for Willis in the 2019 fourth round, and he teamed with Julian Blackmon as the team’s primary safeties over the past two seasons. Blackmon missed 11 games last season, suffering an Achilles tear. Willis played through injury issues, but an IR stint and a COVID-19-related absence limited him to 11 games in 2021. Calf and knee trouble led Willis to IR last season. He missed time due to a concussion and broken ribs in 2020.

Indianapolis has been active at safety this offseason. The team traded up in the third round to select Maryland safety Nick Cross. That move came after the Colts signed longtime Eagles starter Rodney McLeod. Indianapolis also added ex-Kansas City backup safety Armani Watts earlier this year. Cross should be expected to team with Blackmon in the long-term, though Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star notes McLeod may get the call to start this season as Cross develops.

Colts, S Rodney McLeod Finalizing Deal

After six seasons with the Eagles, Rodney McLeod is preparing to relocate. The former Super Bowl starter is finalizing a deal with the Colts, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The Eagles re-signed Anthony Harris earlier this offseason and went through a virtual visit with Tyrann Mathieu this week. McLeod, a nine-year starter with the Rams and Eagles, will join a Colts secondary that encountered significant injury issues last season.

McLeod is entering his age-32 season. This will mark the veteran’s fourth NFL contract. The Eagles initially signed the UDFA success story in 2016 and kept him around, via a pay-cut agreement, to form a longtime McLeod-Malcolm Jenkins partnership. While McLeod played under former Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon in Philadelphia last season, Indianapolis hired a new defensive coordinator this year (Gus Bradley). This McLeod agreement comes days after the Colts added veteran safety/special-teamer Armani Watts.

One of the more experienced free agents available, McLeod has made 123 starts during his 10-year career. He has intercepted 16 career passes and forced 11 fumbles. The ex-Virginia Cavalier has bounced back from multiple major injuries as a pro as well, returning from a 2018 MCL tear and a 2020 ACL tear. McLeod’s completion percentage as the nearest defender in coverage did spike following his latest post-injury re-emergence, rising from 48% in 2020 to 71%. Though, these figures are a bit less indicative for safeties than they are for cornerbacks.

Indianapolis has its Week 1 starter pair from last season — Julian Blackmon and Khari Willis — under contract. Blackmon is coming off an Achilles tear, while Willis missed six games last season and battled injuries in 2020 as well. Andrew Sendejo worked as a fill-in last season; the 12-year veteran remains in free agency.

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/3/22

Here are Monday’s activations from and placements on the reserve/COVID-19 lists:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Mike Remmers (remains on IR)

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Raymond Calais (remains on IR)

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/16/20

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

  • Placed on IR: S Saquan Hamilton

Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles’ Rodney McLeod Done For Year

Eagles safety Rodney McLeod is done for the season. On Monday, the Birds announced that McLeod has been diagnosed with a torn ACL.

[RELATED: Eagles To Stick With Hurts]

McLeod exited early from the Eagles’ win over the Saints, capping his season just as the Eagles playoff hopes were renewed. Unfortunately, this marks the second ACL tear of his pro career. His 2020 will end with starts in all 13 games, 66 stops, one interception, and two fumble recoveries — including the one he took to the house against the Cowboys in November.

McLeod remains under contract for 2021 thanks to the two-year, $12MM deal he signed last offseason. He won’t have to stress over security as he rehabs, since his $3.75MM base salary is guaranteed.

The good news is that McLeod already knows the ropes after bouncing back from his previous ACL tear. Upon returning last year, the safety started in all 16 regular season games and notched two interceptions, six passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one sack, and 76 total stops.

Eagles Re-Sign Rodney McLeod

The Eagles have re-signed Rodney McLeod to a two-year contract, per a club announcement. The new deal will be worth $12MM in total, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter) hears. 

McLeod has been a starter since the 2013 season, when he was still with the (St. Louis) Rams. That streak continued in 2016 when he hooked on with the Eagles, though he was interrupted by a knee injury in 2018 that limited him to just three games. After that, the Eagles asked him to adjust his deal and he obliged.

Last year, he was able to return and start in all 16 of the Eagles’ regular season games. He came away with two interceptions – bringing his career tally to 13 picks – along with six passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one sack, and 76 total stops.

McLeod is currently slated to return to his starting position. This time around, he’ll be paired with Jalen Mills on the first-string unit. Earlier today, the Birds re-upped Mills on a one-year deal and declined their option on locker room leader Malcolm Jenkins.