Cyrus Kouandjio was a future investment for the Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos signed offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio as a developmental move. He could have an impact for the 2018 season…
The Denver Broncos made an interesting roster move earlier in the 2017 season when they signed former second round pick Cyrus Kouandjio to a contract, one that seemed like a move just for depth or ‘in case of emergency’.
But was it more than just that?
After initially thinking the Broncos signed Kouandjio to just a one-year contract to see if they would need him in 2018, I discovered something on OverTheCap.com that I found interesting.
The Broncos actually signed Kouandjio through the 2018 season, meaning the team and front office potentially have plans for him beyond this season.
Kouandjio was let go from the Detroit Lions this year and was let go from the Bills prior to that despite being a second round pick in 2014.
Kouandjio was a big time recruit coming out of high school, and chose Alabama over pretty much every other school in the country.
He played some as a freshman at Alabama, but was injured his first year on campus. In 2012 and 2013, he became the starting left tackle for the Crimson Tide, and was dominant in the running game in the 2013 National Championship game against Notre Dame.
After a junior season where he was named a first-team All-SEC selection, Kouandjio left school for the draft, and proved to be a little bit less athletic in pre-draft workouts than many had hoped or anticipated.
At 6-foot-7, 322 pounds, Kouandjio ran the 40-yard dash in barely under 5.6 seconds, which is far too slow for the NFL level, even with a 1.93 second 10-yard split. Kouandjio had proven himself on the field, however, and was a second round draft choice by Buffalo.
After playing pretty well when given opportunities for the Bills, Kouandjio couldn’t stay healthy, and was ultimately released. The Detroit Lions kicked the tires in the offseason, but Kouandjio was unable to win a backup job behind Taylor Decker.
The Broncos came calling after placing Menelik Watson on injured reserve, but the timing could have also perhaps been due to Kouandjio getting healthy from a hip surgery.
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Fitting the profile of a long-armed, heavy-handed mauler in the run game the Broncos have preferred at the right tackle position in John Elway’s reign, Kouandjio is a player that has obviously got some talent, but has not been able to put together a string of good health.
The Broncos are perhaps betting that he can get back to full strength in 2018, and at least offer them an option on the offensive line as a swing tackle, if not a dark horse starting candidate at right tackle.
Draft analysts knew Kouandjio would perhaps be a project coming out of Alabama, despite their history of cranking out NFL-ready talent. He was always more of a mauler than a technician at tackle, but getting him in the building with Jeff Davidson (the Broncos’ offensive line coach) and into a great strength and conditioning program could be exactly what this young player needs to get his career on the right path.
Kouandjio has been in the NFL since 2014, and is still just 24 years old. Hope is not lost for him yet, and the Broncos will have a full offseason to evaluate his practices from this year, get him in shape, and make sure he has every chance to compete in 2018.