DL Byron Cowart To Sign With Dolphins

Byron Cowart has found another new home in 2023. The veteran defensive lineman has agreed to terms on a deal with the Dolphins, his agency announced on Tuesday. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes this will be a practice squad arrangement.

Cowart began his career with the Patriots in 2019, and he made five appearances as a rookie. His playing time saw a notable spike the following year, as he started all 14 games he played in while logging a 48% snap share. An injury in 2021 cost him that entire season and led to the eventual end of Cowart’s tenure in New England, however, and his career has seen him bounce around the AFC since then.

The 27-year-old spent last season with the Colts. He played every game with Indianapolis, though he did so while seeing the field for only 20% of the team’s defensive snaps. Cowart totaled 12 tackles during the campaign, and he received by far the worst overall PFF grade (30.4) of his brief career. It thus comes as little surprise that he has struggled to find a full-time opportunity throughout the past several months.

Cowart signed with the Chiefs in March, but he was let go shortly thereafter. That allowed him to join the Texans in a return to the AFC South. Houston’s general manager, Nick Caserio, was with New England when Cowart was drafted. That familiarity did not pay off for the latter, however, as he was among the Texans’ final roster cuts. After a few weeks on the open market, he will now get another opportunity to crack an active roster.

The former fifth-rounder will likely be elevated on gamedays from the Dolphins’ taxi squad as he looks to find playing time in a depth capacity. Miami has leaned heavily on Zach Sieler and Christian Wilkins along the defensive front, and that will continue so long as they are both healthy. Seiler is on the books through 2026 after inking a three-year, $30.75MM extension last month. Wilkins, however, was not able to come to terms on a new Dolphins deal in the summer and his contract talks will be paused until the offseason. With a strong showing, Cowart could play his way into an extended look in South Beach.