MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins acquired centre Daniel Kilgore in a trade Thursday with San Francisco amid reports they plan to release three-time Pro Bowl centre Mike Pouncey.
The trade was part of a makeover in the interior of the offensive line. Four-time Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton agreed to terms with Miami on a two-year deal that could be worth nearly $18 million including incentives, said his agent, Jack Reale.
Pouncey, 28, has been plagued by serious problems with both hips, and at one time said he feared the issue might be career-ending. But last season he played in all 16 games for the first time since 2012.
The Dolphins also signed former New England Patriots receiver Danny Amendola and re-signed long snapper John Denney, who has been with the team since 2005 and turns 40 in December.
Miami would create $7 million in cap space by releasing Pouncey, who could become the fifth starter jettisoned by coach Adam Gase after a 6-10 season. Five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was released, as were linebacker Lawrence Timmons and tight end Julius Thomas, and three-time Pro Bowl receiver Jarvis Landry was traded.
Pouncey, a first-round draft pick by the Dolphins in 2011, made the Pro Bowl in 2013-15. He was at the centre of team’s bullying scandal in 2013.
Kilgore is a seven-year veteran who started all 16 games for the 49ers in 2017. Last month they signed him to an $11.78 million, three-year contract extension, but he became expendable when the team signed free agent centre Weston Richburg to a $47.5 million, five-year deal this week.
As part of Miami’s trade with San Francisco, the teams swapped seventh-round draft picks.
Sitton, 31, spent the past two seasons with the Chicago Bears and made the Pro Bowl most recently in 2016. He played for the Green Bay Packers from 2008 to 2015 and has 137 career starts.
Amendola, 32, is a nine-year veteran with 426 receptions, including 61 last season. Since 2013, he has played in 13 post-season games with Tom Brady.
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