Kilgore shipped to Miami for seventh-round pick

The 49ers reached a trade agreement that will send starting Daniel Kilgore and a seventh-round pick to the Miami Dolphins.

San Francisco will get a seventh-round pick in exchange for the seven-year center, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

In what looks to be a move to clear cap space for the upcoming season, Miami will take on the remainder of Kilgore’s contract. Including a $500,000 roster bonus. The Dolphins will be on the hook for up to $5.375 million for the 2018 season.

Over the course of his seven years in San Francisco, Kilgore played in a total of 74 regular season games (39 starts) and six post season games. As a fifth-round pick in 2011, Kilgore was the 49ers second-longest tenured lineman behind 11-year veteran, Joe Staley.

In moving on from Kilgore, the 49ers appear to have high hopes for newly-signed center/guard Weston Richburg after inking the former New York Giant to a five-year, $47.5 million contract on Wednesday afternoon.

According to Pro Football Focus, Kilgore earned a 51.0 grade while Richburg landed a 71.3 in 2017. To put that in perspective, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce earned the league’s highest grade at a 92.4.

With the center position secure and more cap space freed up, the 49ers will likely look to upgrade at the guard position. Last season, Pro Football Focus also ranked the San Francisco offensive line as 20th best in the league so improvement there is clearly a high priority.