Cowboys give restricted free agent guard Ron Leary second-round tender

The Dallas placed a second-round tender on restricted free agent guard Ron Leary and a low tender on restricted free agent safety Jeff Heath.

The second-round tender guarantees Leary a salary of $2.553 million next season, while Heath gets $1.671 million.

The key with Leary is that the Cowboys get a second-round draft pick in return if he signs a contract with another team. With Heath, the Cowboys have the right to match an outside offer, but would get no draft-pick compensation.

Leary, who came to the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2012, could draw some interest in free agency. He was a two-year starter before being benched in 2015 for highly-touted rookie La’el Collins.

He was a key part of the 2014 line that paved the way for DeMarco Murray’s team-record 1,845 yards rushing.

It still makes for an interesting situation for the Cowboys.

The $2.5 million salary is high price for a backup guard who could be inactive for much of the season. But so is a second-round draft pick for a former undrafted free agent who is now considered a backup.

There is a chance Leary could sign with another team with the two sides working out a trade for less than the second-round pick.

Leary just wants to play and be rewarded for his hard work.

“I just want what I deserve.... But I know #GodGotMe,” Leary posted on Twitter Monday.

Heath is a core special teams who player will likely not draw a lot of interest. He is expected to sign his tender and return to the Cowboys next season.

This story was originally published March 7, 2016 at 3:35 PM.