15 worst free agent signings in Denver Broncos franchise history

6. Ronald Leary, OG (2017)

The Denver Broncos were desperate -- once again -- for offensive line help in the 2017 offseason, and they let their investment show it. Although it wasn't exactly a frowned-upon move at the time, the decision to sign Ronald Leary to a big-money deal after the Dallas Cowboys let him walk was certainly questionable.

Leary was undrafted in 2012 due to a degenerative knee condition. Injuries cost him most of the 2015 season and some of the 2016 season before he hit free agency in 2017.

Free agency of 2017, where the Broncos brought him in on a four-year deal worth $36 million and $20 million guaranteed. Again, this move wasn't exactly frowned upon, although investing in the offensive line in free agency hadn't been overly kind to the Broncos in this stretch of time (which, frankly, is ongoing).

Leary started 11 games in 2017 before landing on IR with a back injury. He came back in the 2018 season but the team moved him over to the left guard position, not his natural position, but a position he'd played well in his final season with Dallas in 2016. He was the starting left guard for all of five games before suffering an Achilles injury in the sixth. He landed on IR yet again.

Leary came back in 2019 to start at right guard, and he did for 11 games before once again missing the final month of the season due to injury.

Signing injury prone players in free agency has consistently haunted the Denver Broncos.