Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson was adamant that the best left tackle perceived to be on the trade market won't be going anywhere this spring.

Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak was far less adamant that another top blocker will remain with his current team.

Asked about his plans for incumbent left tackle Ryan Clady after the Broncos signed Russell Okung in free agency, Kubiak was noncommittal about the four-time Pro Bowler's future at the NFL's annual spring meetings today.

"Well, he’s part of our team, so our plans are to put Ryan back to work and, obviously, we’ve gotten better up front with some of our additions. So we’ll see," Kubiak said. "But the biggest thing for Ryan was getting healthy, getting back and getting ready to go."

Clady, who turns 30 in December, missed most of the 2013 season with a Lisfranc injury and all of last season after he tore his ACL during an off-season workout.

When healthy, Clady was considered one of the top pass-protecting left tackles in the NFL. But he appears expendable now that Okung is on board.

"Ryan’s still a young player," Kubiak said. "He’s just been very unfortunate, two out of the last three years, to have some significant injuries. But he’s worked really hard. He’s busted his tail (in rehab), and I think he’s very close and ready to be a participant in our off-season program. So we’ll see."

The Lions have been looking for upgrades to their offensive line this off-season and have had to turn their attention elsewhere after losing out on Okung.

For now, Riley Reiff remains at left tackle, but the Lions are willing to move him to right tackle if they can upgrade.

Clady reportedly told the Broncos that he was willing to renegotiate a contract that's set to pay him $9.5 million this fall. But because his high salary would be an obstacle to interested teams, Clady likely will have some say where he's traded or could force the Broncos' hand to release him.

“We have a very competitive situation and we’ve gotten better as a football team up front and got a lot of good guys on our football team right now, from an offensive line standpoint," Kubiak said. "So biggest thing for us is to get better up front, and that’s what we’re trying to do."

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett

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