HEADLINES

Rodney McLeod

Trade Rumors: Slayton, Lattimore, Broncos

November 5th, 2024 at 1:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rumblings about the Steelers pursuing both Courtland Sutton and Darius Slayton surfaced days before the deadline. While no real traction has come out regarding Sutton — one of the NFL’s 2020s trade-rumor pillars — Slayton is still in play to be moved. The Giants wide receiver indeed came up during a Steelers push that concluded with a Mike Williams addition, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler noting Pittsburgh “took a hard look” at the sixth-year New York pass catcher.

Slayton has shown ability as a deep threat in the Big Apple, helping the Giants after a few of their past WR plans have gone awry. We are in crunch time for Big Blue regarding a trade of either Slayton or Azeez Ojulari, with the deadline looming in less than two hours. Slayton is finishing up a two-year, $12MM deal but is attached to barely $1MM in remaining salary. The Giants keeping Slayton would open the door to a potential compensatory reward if he leaves as a 2025 free agent.

Here is the latest from the trade market:

  • The Ravens also explored a trade for Marshon Lattimore, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The Chiefs and Chargers joined the Commanders in being in on the Pro Bowl cornerback, but a three-pick package sent him to Washington. Baltimore has Marlon Humphrey and used a first-round pick on Nate Wiggins. Pro Football Focus, however, has graded boundary starter Brandon Stephens 95th overall at the position this season. Lattimore, his injury trouble notwithstanding, would have been an upgrade on Stephens in a Humphrey-fronted position group. Both Lattimore and Humphrey entered the NFL as 2017 first-round picks.
  • Although the Broncos are likely to see another deadline pass without dealing Sutton, some around the league are wondering about Javonte Williams‘ status. The fourth-year back has not quite looked the same since his ACL and LCL tears in 2022, though he has produced at points for this year’s 5-4 team. Still, execs are wondering about Williams’ trade availability, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano, due to rumors Denver is planning to give rookie Audric Estime a bigger workload. Estime, however, has fumbled twice — despite logging only 15 carries. Williams has also lost two fumbles, and given his form since the injury and Estime being signed through 2027, teams may be touching base with the Broncos about their contract-year RB.
  • Rodney McLeod does not want to be part of a Browns exodus. Announcing before the season he intends to retire, McLeod said (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot) he does not want to be moved off the 2-7 team’s roster. “I’m riding with this team,” McLeod said. “I’m in the boat. I’m not looking to escape.” The Browns have traded Amari Cooper and Za’Darius Smith and cut Quinton Jefferson. They may well be done for the day, however, with Fowler adding talks about other players have not produced a deal.

S Rodney McLeod Plans To Retire After 2024 Season

May 14th, 2024 at 5:43pm CST by Ben Levine

Rodney McLeod is intending for the 2024 campaign to be his final NFL season. The veteran Browns safety told NFL Network that he’ll be hanging up his cleats following the upcoming season.

“This is the last lap for me. It’s been a long career,” McLeod said (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). “I’m looking forward to rocking out with my teammates this year, giving it all, and hopefully ending up where we want to be, which is the last dance at the end of the year.”

McLeod wants to go out on a high note following a 2023 campaign where he was limited to 10 games thanks to a biceps injury. The 12-year veteran acknowledged that he considered retirement following this past season, but the player pointed to “unfinished business” as a reason for a 13th year.

The veteran joined the Browns last offseason and served as a backup to Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill. He finished the season with only 29 tackles, and while he didn’t earn enough snaps to qualify for Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings, his grade would have placed him towards the bottom of the safeties list.

However, McLeod is only a year removed from ranking seventh among 88 qualifying safeties on that same list, so there could still be something left in the tank. The Browns will return the same safeties grouping in 2024, although this time McLeod will have to compete with his 2023 fill-in, D’Anthony Bell.

This season, McLeod will be looking to complete a resume that already includes a Super Bowl championship and 718 career tackles. The former UDFA has also spent time with the Rams, Eagles, Colts throughout his career.

Browns, S Rodney McLeod Closing In On Deal

March 16th, 2024 at 12:13pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like Rodney McLeod will be back in Cleveland next season. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns and the free agent safety are closing in on a new contract. It would be a one-year deal for the veteran safety.

McLeod inked a one-year deal with the Browns last offseason. He started five of his 10 appearances in Cleveland, collecting 29 tackles while appearing in about half of his team’s defensive snaps. He tore his biceps in November, ending his season prematurely.

The former UDFA had long stints with the Rams and Eagles to start his career. He landed with the Colts for the 2022 season and had one of the most productive seasons of his career. During his age-32 season, McLeod compiled career-highs in tackles (96) and passes defended (eight). He also had a pair of interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. The veteran finished that season ranked seventh among 88 qualifying safeties on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings.

The Browns dealt with a number of absences to their safeties grouping in 2023, with Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill both missing time. That duo should return to the top of the depth chart in 2024, but McLeod will now have more competition for playing time after Ronnie Hickman and D’Anthony Bell got extended looks down the stretch.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/21/23

November 21st, 2023 at 9:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Harrison was among the Colts’ final roster cuts in August, but he was immediately retained via the practice squad. Despite that move, the 26-year-old has yet to make an appearance in Indianapolis as a gameday elevation. He will now have the chance to make his Colts debut, having taken the 53-man roster spot of Shaquille Leonard after the latter’s surprise cut.

Muse will be required to miss at least the next four weeks as a result of the IR move. The former Seahawk has played exclusively on special teams to date during his first season with the Chargers, logging a 73% snap share in that capacity. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports Muse could still play later this season, something which will give Los Angeles a boost in the third phase if they are still in playoff contention down the stretch.

Ahmed’s foot injury, coupled with a new round of uncertainty regarding the healthy of rookie sensation De’Von Achane, could leave Miami shorthanded in the backfield. While it remains to be seen if the latter will miss time after coming back from an IR stint, the former will not be available moving forward. Ahmed is out for the season, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. The 24-year-old scored two total touchdowns on 38 touches this year, his fourth with the Dolphins. He is set to hit free agency this offseason, but the injury will no doubt hurt his market.

Browns S Rodney McLeod Done For Season

November 20th, 2023 at 9:04pm CST by Ben Levine

Rodney McLeod is done for the season. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that the safety suffered a biceps injury that will require season-ending surgery, per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.

The injury occurred during the fourth quarter of yesterday’s win over the Steelers. McLeod was later diagnosed with a torn biceps.

Following a career year with the Colts that saw him finish with 96 tackles, eight passes defended, and two interceptions, McLeod caught on with the Browns this past offseason. While the veteran has only started five of his 10 games this season, he’s played a significant role on Cleveland’s league-leading defense.

As Cabot writes, the Browns have leaned heavily on the 33-year-old’s leadership and experience in Jim Schwartz’ defense. McLeod has also contributed on the stat sheet, compiling 29 total tackles. The veteran played in about half of his team’s defensive snaps while also contributing on special teams.

The injury comes at an especially bad time for the Browns with safety Juan Thornhill also sidelined. This means Cleveland will have to rely on the likes of D’Anthony Bell and Ronnie Hickman to play opposite starter Grant Delpit until the team gets some reinforcement.

AFC North Notes: Browns, Monken, Ravens

June 9th, 2023 at 8:03pm CST by Ely Allen

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

May 4th, 2023 at 9:47am CST by Sam Robinson

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

July 27th, 2022 at 5:45pm CST by Ben Levine

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

July 24th, 2022 at 11:37am CST by Rory Parks

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

June 15th, 2022 at 1:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

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