Browns Reportedly Close To Re-Signing Veteran Safety Rodney McLeod

After seeing his season cut short by a torn bicep, Rodney McLeod is expected to return to the the Browns on a one-year deal.

Injuries derailed the Browns 2023 season but general manager Andrew Berry is hoping history doesn't repeat itself in 2024

Much of Berry's offseason strategy during the first week of the new league year has been about bringing much of last year's roster back and taking another crack at it. That process is expected to continue.  

According to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot, veteran safety Rodney McLeod is closing in in re-signing with the Browns for 2024. His deal is expected to be for just one year, similar to several other key defenders who have already re-signed with the franchise. 

McLeod was unfortunately one of more than a dozen players who suffered a season-ending injury during last season. The 33-year-old suffered a torn pectoral in Cleveland's Week 11 win over the Steelers. 

Despite being sidelined for the final seven weeks of the season, McLeod stayed around the team facility and remained a leading voice in the locker room as the team made its first playoff appearance since 2020. Wihile top free safety Juan Thornhill battled various injuries throughout the season, McLeod saw plenty of action filling I'm at the free safety spot. 

The 12-year veteran appeared in all 10 games he was active for, starting five. He finished with 29 total tackles, two for a loss and one pass breakup. 

McLeod came to Cleveland last offseason after spending the 2022 campaign in Indianapolis. Before his stop in Indy, University of Virginia product enjoyed five fruitful years in Philadelphia where he crossed paths with Browns defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz from 2016-2021. With Schwartz guiding the defense in 2017, the Eagles went on a magical run to win Super Bowl LII as McLeod started 14 games for Philly. 

Reuniting with Schwartz was one of the factors that brought McLeod to Cleveland last offseason. Now he'll return for another go around as another familiar face from that Eagles' championship team joins the fold in LB Jordan Hicks as well. Hicks inked a two-year deal with Cleveland earlier in the week. 

Get updated on all the Browns offseason moves with our Free Agency Tracker.