The Buffalo Bills are exchanging offensive line depth for draft capital.
The team announced on Monday that it has traded offensive lineman Cody Ford to the Arizona Cardinals for a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
The Bills, along with every other team, must trim their roster down to 80 players by Tuesday at 4 p.m., so this move frees a roster spot.
Ford was drafted by the Bills 38th overall in the 2019 NFL draft but has struggled to make much of a name for himself. Adding a bit of salt in the wound, Buffalo traded up to take Ford, giving up an extra fifth-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in the deal.
Ford originally started at right tackle, playing all 16 games as a rookie, but the Bills then tried him at guard. He didn’t have much success on the interior, starting only seven games last season.
Buffalo trading Ford comes after general manager Brandon Beane backed Ford this spring. Beane referenced another former Bills draft pick, offensive lineman Wyatt Teller, in doing so.
The Bills previously selected Teller and then when it appeared there was not a place for him, he was shipped to the Cleveland Browns. Teller went to to become an All-Pro player.
With Beane risking that same situation, the team clearly hit the end of the line with Ford.
In moving to the Cardinals, Ford reunites with Kyler Murray. He played with the quarterback in college at the University of Oklahoma.
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