Bills cut Cyrus Kouandjio; Should Dolphins take a look?

The story of the AFC East seems to always be a story of incest. The Miami Dolphins cut a player, the New England Patriots sign him. The New York Jets fire a coach, the Buffalo Bills hire him. Miami transition tags a player, the Bills sign him. The Bills place a restricted free agent tender on a player, the Patriots sign him. It is a never-ending cycle of players, coaches, and executives moving across the division.

Could that continue with today’s move by the Bills?

The Bills made some roster moves on Wednesday, signing wide receiver Rod Streater and tight end Was Sexton (a member of the Jets in 2015). In order to make roster space, the Bills released quarterback Josh Woodrum and offensive lineman Cyrus Kouandjio.

A second-round pick in 2014, Kouandijo joined the Bills out of Alabama and was considered a top-end offensive tackle but health concerns pushed him out of the first round. He never seemed to adjust to the NFL game in Buffalo, where they first tried to play him out of position as a right tackle before ending that experiment and making him a reserve left tackle. He also continued to deal with injuries, including ankle and hip problems last year added to the chronic knee issue discovered before the draft.

Kouandjio, however, is only 23 years old, an age when most players are still rookies or maybe heading into their second year. Instead, Kouandjio has three years of NFL experience and could be brought in - if healthy - to provide tackle depth and, possibly, resurrect his career. (That sounds strange to say of a 23 year old.)

The Dolphins have not been interested in free agent guard Orlando Franklin, but they should at least take a look at Kouandjio. They were linked to him in 2014 leading up to the draft, before the team selected Ja’Wuan James in the first round. At worst, Kouandjio comes into training camp on a low-end deal and does not make the team. At best, the Dolphins have someone to plug into the left tackle position should anything happen to second-year lineman Laremy Tunsil, and possibly have a player who could be taught to play left guard as well.

Offensive line depth is always a requirement during the season, and while Miami has seemed happy with their guard situation, a young player to back up your starting left tackle is never a bad thing. Obviously, Kouandjio would have to be healthy, but the Dolphins could at least take a flyer on a player who could still have upside despite his first three seasons in the league suggesting otherwise.

For more on Kouandjio’s release and the Buffalo Bills, check out Buffalo Rumblings.