Breaking news: Dolphins to release Earl Mitchell and more

The Miami Dolphins will reportedly release LT Branden Albert today and now it appears they are not done. It’s being reported that Earl Mitchell will also be released.

Someone is working overtime in Davie, Fl. today at the Dolphins training complex. It was reported earlier that Branden Albert will be released and now the Dolphins appear set to release Earl Mitchell as well. According to a report on Twitter.

The news that Mario Williams will be released is not really news. The timing was the only real question as Williams played horribly in 2016 and was scheduled to count $10.5 million against this years cap. The Dolphins will save all but $2 million of that with the release.

What is surprising is that the Dolphins have opted to release Earl Mitchell now rather than later. Mitchell was injured off and on last year but there was belief that he could return this year if the Dolphins could work on a restructure of his deal.

Mitchell’s release will save the Dolphins $4 million in cap space while leaving only $500 k in dead money.

The Dolphins also appear ready to release Ifo Ekpre-Olomu in a roster move.

The releases today could signal the Dolphins intentions to get some of their impending free agents signed now ahead of free agency or give them money to get those deals done during the NFL Combine week. The Combine starts February 28th.

While none of the moves are really all that surprising, except maybe Albert, the Dolphins doing them all at once is a little surprising given that there is still time between now and the start of free agency.

We will have more on this and how it relates to the Dolphins free agent needs and draft possibilities when these moves become official.