Miami Dolphins to release Mike Pouncey trade for Kilgore

The Miami Dolphins will have a new center in 2018 as they will release former Pro-Bowl center Mike Pouncey.

Pouncey was approached about taking a paycut this year and instead it was reported that he wanted an extension to which the Dolphins declined. Pouncey then asked for his release.

Miami will release the center and immediately made a trade with the San Francisco 49’ers for their starting center, Daniel Kilgore. Kilgore will step in immediately as the Dolphins starter and the trade was heavily in favor of the Dolphins.

Miami will swap 7th round picks with the 49’ers, a four spot drop for the Dolphins. San Francisco just signed Kilgore to an extension in November, a three year deal which Miami will not take on.

For Pouncey it is an end to his career in Miami and he informed local media that he left everything on the field for the Dolphins, had no regrets, and would forever be a Miami Dolphin. Unfortunately despite Pouncey having a full season in 2017 wasn’t enough.

The Dolphins need more consistency along the offensive line and while Pouncey can provide that his health no longer allows him to. Last year he completed the season but it was clear that his multiple hip surgeries had taken its toll and Pouncey lost some of his push upfield.

Pouncey will still be remembered as one of the Dolphins best offensive lineman of the last 10 years or more. The former first round draft pick came in at a time when the Dolphins were trying to remake the offense under Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano.

The Dolphins will save $7 million in cap space this year and will eat $2 million. This off-season has been one of the biggest make-overs this team has undergone in the last ten years. Miami has jettisoned four Pro-Bowl players in the last 7 months including Pouncey, Ndamukong Suh, Jarvis Landry, and Jay Ajayi.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this said the Dolphins had released Pouncey, that has not yet been confirmed but is expected.