Marcus Trufant Reported to Be Released: Should the Miami Dolphins Target Him?

It's surprising that the Miami Dolphins need so much help on defense, given their drastic improvement over the course of 2011. Free agency would be a good way to get that done, and another big name on defense is set to hit the market.

According to Danny O'Neil of The Seattle Times, the Seattle Seahawks are expected to part ways with cornerback Marcus Trufant.

With so many holes on defense and not a great deal of cap space to work with, the Dolphins have to be careful of where they put their money. Trufant hasn't exactly been a top-notch player throughout his career. Just one look at his numbers tells you what you need to know about Trufant's history since 2008—as far back as Pro Football Focus' tracking runs.

The only cornerback who performed well last year was Vontae Davis. Pretty much everyone else had a big drop-off from 2010 to this year.

They'll be hunting for help in their defensive backfield through the draft, but they should look to add in free agency, as well.

While Trufant may not have the same talent that earned him seven interceptions and a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2007, what he does offer is veteran leadership to a secondary in need of it. All but two of their cornerbacks will be 26 or younger in 2012. Trufant could help coach those guys up, given his experience in the NFL.

It's not a question of whether there will be a market for Trufant; with so many teams in need of a cornerback, he'll have plenty of callers. At 30 years old, though, the question must be asked of how much he hast left in the tank.

Coming off an injury-shortened season, Trufant has the potential to pay off greatly given what he'll cost. The problem is, even when he was healthy, he wasn't playing at a very high level. 

My mom imparted a saying on me that goes, "Those who can't do, teach." Even if Marcus Trufan't can't do anymore, the Dolphins would be wise to bring him in to teach.

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