DAVIE, Fla. (AP) Left tackle Branden Albert was among four players released Thursday by the Miami Dolphins, clearing the way for 2016 first-round draft pick Laremy Tunsil to move over from guard.
Also departing were four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams, defensive tackle Earl Mitchell and cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. The moves save about $20 million in 2017 cap space.
Albert, 32, anchored the Dolphins’ line for three seasons when healthy but missed four games last year because of a wrist injury and illness. He hasn’t played all 16 games since 2011 with Kansas City.
Albert was due to make $8.88 million this year. He mentored Tunsil, who was a three-year starter at left tackle at Mississippi and played mostly guard as an NFL rookie after he was taken 13th in the draft.
Tunsil was touted as a potential No. 1 overall choice before a video was posted on his Twitter account showing him smoking from a gas mask connected to a bong.
Williams, 32, saw little action after signing a $17 million, two-year deal in 2016. He had 1+ sacks, increasing his career total to 97+, and made 13 tackles.
Mitchell was limited to nine games and five starts because of injuries. Ekpre-Olomu didn’t play in 2016 while still recovering from a serious knee injury in college.
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