While the Dallas Cowboyseye the market for a quarterback, could they be angling to trade a lineman, too?
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that fans should "keep an eye" on veteran guard Ronald Leary. Per a source informed of the talks, the Saints have pursued the experienced Cowboys blocker to no avail over the past few months.
A swap would make sense on multiple levels. Leary -- stuck playing behind La'el Collins -- asked for a trade in the offseason, but Dallas never received an appropriate offer. The Saints, though, could immediately plug Leary in at left guard, where Senio Kelemete and Tim Lelito are battling for a starting job. Lelito stood out last season against the run, but New Orleans remembers Leary's work from 2014, when he dominated the NFL as a road-grading guard in Dallas.
Carrying a base salary of $2.553 million this season, Leary becomes a free agent in March. At age 27, he still has plenty of football left and could help lineman-needy teams. The question boils down to what the Saints can offer in return. The Cowboys need quarterback help, but New Orleans can't offer much in that category. The other option would be a defensive lineman -- or maybe a draft pick.
We've seen trade action kick up in NFL circles over the past few seasons, and the 'Boys continue to operate like a team gunning for the Super Bowl. We'll find out soon enough if Leary will play out the year in Big D, The Big Easy -- or somewhere else.
