Examining the ramifications of Broncos cutting OG Ron Leary

Denver Broncos right guard Ronald Leary has yet to take a snap in a preseason game this summer. His first two seasons with the team were each cut short because of injuries.

The Achilles injury Leary suffered last season is one he hasn't fully recovered from, which begs the question; should the Broncos move on from him now?

As so many members at Mile High Huddle have stated, the best ability is availability, and though Leary has participated in a few offseason workouts, again, he hasn't played in any preseason game. There are doubts as to whether or not he'll be ready to play when the regular season starts.

How likely are the Broncos to cut Leary?

Ramifications of cutting Leary

Leary is due a base salary of $8.15 million, of which $5.35M is fully guaranteed (though there would be offset clauses if he is cut). The remainder becomes fully guaranteed if he's on the 53-man roster for Week 1 of the regular season. He is also due $250,000 in per-game roster bonus, meaning he gets a portion of that money paid for each week he's active.

If the Broncos were to cut him when it's time to set the 53-man roster, the team would eat a $6.225M dead money charge from the fully guaranteed base salary, plus $875,000 from his signing bonus. They would gain $2.993M in cap space.

In 2020, Leary has a team option, which, if exercised, would fully guarantee him $1.5M of his $8.15M base salary. If he's either cut this year, or if he stays for 2019 and the option is declined before the start of the 2020 NFL calendar year (March 10, 2020), the Broncos gain $8.5M in cap space with an $875,000 dead money charge.

By cutting Leary now, the Broncos would take a significant dead money charge this season, but they would have little in the way of dead money next season, whether they cut him now or decline his option in 2020. The exception is if they trade him now, in which case the Broncos would take just an $875,000 dead money charge with $8.343M in freed cap space, because whoever trades for him takes on the entire base salary.

The drawbacks

It's not hard to figure out that teams won't trade for Leary at this point, so we can rule that option out. Thus, your options are to either cut him now or keep him this season, then be prepared to decline his option in 2020.

What happens if the Broncos do cut Leary? They would likely have another player start at right guard. Don Barclay has been solid this preseason and I would suspect he'd be the first player the Broncos consider.

Elijah Wilkinson was solid at right guard last season, and while he's the current swing tackle, the Broncos could move him to guard for the season and consider another player — whether on the roster or elsewhere — to be the swing tackle.

Losing Leary means the Broncos would have one less veteran offensive lineman. However, given that Leary has yet to take the field, there are those who wouldn't consider it a major loss to the team.

Another consideration, though, is that the Broncos' O-line depth isn't in great shape, so cutting Leary means your depth takes a hit, because a backup player enters the starting lineup. That may be the biggest reason for not cutting Leary — since the Broncos are on the hook for the bulk of his salary, better to keep him so you have an experienced player who can enter the lineup when you need him.

One other consideration — though a minor one — is that if the Broncos keep Leary in 2019, then decline his option in 2020, he would be eligible for the compensatory pick formula in unrestricted free agency. Again, that's a minor consideration, especially because he won't likely find a new team quickly.

If Leary stays and does get injured again, the Broncos would likely have to pay him $1.25M as an injury settlement if they declined his option. In that situation, I suspect the Broncos would still decline the option because they would figure it's best to move on and just pay him that money.

But let's get back to the question

Should the Broncos cut Ronald Leary?

I can see why it would make sense, but I would first want to make sure that I have another viable option in place before moving on. That doesn't have to be an interior offensive lineman — for example, if the Broncos pulled off a trade for Laremy Tunsil, they could cut Leary and roll with either Barclay or Wilkinson at right guard while the other takes the swing tackle spot.

If the Broncos included Garett Bolles in a trade for Tunsil, that, combined with cutting Leary, would leave enough cap space to add an offensive lineman for depth.

However, the Broncos could just as easily move on from Leary if they acquired a center in free agency or through waivers or a trade. They would then be able to move Connor McGovern to right guard, part ways with Leary and still have Barclay and Wilkinson for depth.

But if the Broncos can't get another lineman in trade, through waivers or free agency, it doesn't make much sense to move on from Leary, unless the Broncos are convinced that he'll never play this season. If they believe that's the case, they have to move on. The Broncos shouldn't have to pay an injury settlement because he has more than $5M in fully guaranteed salary due.

Any indication that Leary will be available for the start of the season, though, means the Broncos will likely keep him, especially if they don't acquire another offensive lineman.

Bottom line

One thing to keep in mind is that, when Leary has been healthy, he has shown he can be a quality starter. His first season with the team saw him put up a season worthy of a Pro Bowl berth, before injuries cut his season short. He wasn't as effective last year, so there is certainly concern whether he can get back to that level of play he showed in 2017.

In summary, whether Leary sticks around all depends on whether the Broncos are convinced he can play this season and, if so, whether or not they find another offensive lineman who can start. I would say the odds, at this point, favor Leary sticking around, but not by a lot. If certain circumstances arise, Leary could become a surprise cut when the 53-man roster is finalized.

Follow Bob on Twitter @BobMorrisSports.

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