One Dallas Cowboys player who is quite unhappy with his role and playing time Ronald Leary, who is asking for a trade, but won’t get one unless the team is offered something impressive.
The situation with Leary is pretty clear. From a starting offensive lineman at left guard in 2013 and 2014, to a backup for undrafted rookie La’el Collins. Leary was on the field for only 137 pass snaps and 84 run snaps in 2015. When he did play he was ranked by various stat sites as one of the best guards in the NFL, but right now, the Cowboys thing that going with Collins (the projected started before mini camps begin) gives them a better shot of protecting Tony Romo and making room down the field for Ezekiel Elliott.
The Cowboys have reportedly been getting offers for Leary for quite some time, dating back to the draft. But the Cowboys, at the moment, expect Leary to show up for the mandatory practices. He has missed the voluntary OTAs, but the Cowboys are hoping he’s both working out and staying in shape, while waiting for him to come around, or for some massive offer to come.
Leary, 27, is entering the final year of his deal. An undrafted rookie in 2012, is making $2.5 million this season before he hits free agency. Obviously, he’s worried not just about playing time, but about what the lack of it will do to his stock price, and bottom line, the salary and contract offers he’ll receive.
What will make the Cowboys give him up? Considering he’s a starting level offensive lineman on about half the teams in the league with a contract that doesn’t hit teams too hard, the Cowboys, whose fear of injuries is understandable after last season, won’t part with him for anything less than a second round pick, or maybe multiple picks that include one second rounder.