The projected roster purge has finally begun, as the Miami Dolphins released veteran defensive end Andre Branch on Saturday morning, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
This move saves Miami $7 million in cap space while only adding on another $2 million in dead cap.
Branch was expected to be released this offseason as part of the Dolphins’ plan to rebuild from the ground up, and was not viewed as part of the team’s long-term future, in spite of the three-year, $24 million dollar contract he signed in 2017.
That deal was a result of having a career year in 2016 with the Dolphins, in which he racked up 49 tackles and 5.5 sacks after playing in all 16 games, starting in 11 of them.
But there was a huge difference between being a one-year, $2.75 million dollar bargain, and the $8 million per year average his new deal gave him.
Branch was never able to live up to that contract, as he remained the supporting cast type of player he always was with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In three years with Miami, Branch played in 44 games, starting 26 of them; he deflected three passes, forced three fumbles, recovered one of them, and made 97 tackles and 11.5 sacks.
Expect more releases to come soon as the days go by, as there are still plenty of players who could still possibly be moved on from to save cash and pave the way for the new way of doing things under head coach Brian Flores.
Such candidates include veteran guard Josh Sitton, veteran safety Reshad Jones, and veteran wide receiver Kenny Stills.
Stay tuned for more.
