Cleveland Browns add veteran Rodney McLeod to provide safety depth
BEREA — The Browns added to their safety depth while also bringing on someone with familiarity in new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's scheme with the signing of veteran Rodney McLeod.
The team officially announced the signing on Friday afternoon. It was first reported Thursday.
McLeod spent last season with the Indianapolis Colts. He played in 17 games, starting 15, with two interceptions and one fumble recoveries.
McLeod has played with three teams — St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles and Colts — over his first 11 seasons after departing the University of Virginia. He's played in 156 career regular-season games, with 138 starts, while starting all five career playoff games in which he's played.
McLeod is the second safety the Browns have officially added to the roster this offseason. They signed two-time Super Bowl champion Juan Thornhill, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs, during the opening week of free agency.
Multiple reports this week have stated Ohio State safety Ronnie Hickman is among the undrafted free agent rookie the Browns have signed since last weekend's draft. However, the team has yet to officially confirm Hickman's addition.
Prior to McLeod's addition, the Browns had just four safeties listed on the roster: Thornill, Grant Delpit, D'Anthony Bell and Bubba Bolden. They released safety John Johnson III in mid-March, while Ronnie Harrison Jr. is an unrestricted free agent.
The team with whom McLeod spent the longest time with was the Eagles, playing — and starting — 75 regular-season and five playoff games from 2016-21. During that time, he had 11 of his 18 career interceptions, both career sacks, four of his 11 career forced fumbles and three of his nine career fumble recoveries.
While with the Eagles, McLeod played under the guidance of Schwartz, who was the Philadelphia defensive coordinator from 2016-20. The Browns hired Schwartz to replace Joe Woods as defensive coordinator in January.
McLeod's career started with the St. Louis Rams, for whom he played four seasons, starting 38 of the 64 games in which he played. He had five interceptions, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries while with the Rams.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns add veteran Rodney McLeod to provide safety depth
