Dolphins trade starting offensive guard Ereck Flowers back to Washington

The Dolphins are trading starting offensive guard Ereck Flowers to Washington, a person familiar with the move confirmed to the USA TODAY Network. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.

Flowers had a scheduled $10 million cap hit, so this clears important salary cap space that can help Miami sign their rookie draft class.

The Dolphins projected starting offensive line might now be Austin Jackson-Solomon Kindley-Matt Skura-Robert Hunt-DJ Fluker/Jesse Davis.

It is also possible Miami adds a center and guard or tackle within the first three rounds of the NFL draft, which starts Thursday.

Flowers, 27, was a solid starter and good veteran teammate, but the Dolphins should not experience a significant drop-off, if any, with the move to Kindley, a powerful second-year pro.

It remains to be seen if the Dolphins would now more consider selecting Penei Sewell of Oregon or Rashawn Slater of Northwestern with the sixth pick. Miami still badly needs a playmaking receiver, however.

Three of the top four free agents Miami signed in 2020 are now gone.

Linebacker Kyle Van Noy (four years, $51 million) was cut. Edge Shaq Lawson (four years, $30 million) was traded to Houston for linebacker Bernardrick McKinney.

Flowers (3 years, $30 million) is being dealt back to his former team. Another free agent signing that did not work out was running back Jordan Howard (2 years, $9.75 million), who was cut during last season.

Many of the Dolphins' offensive linemen have versatility. For example, Kindley can play left guard or right guard. Hunt can play right tackle or right guard. Davis can play every position on the line, except perhaps center. Fluker can play right tackle or guard.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Ereck Flowers trade: Miami Dolphins send starter back to Washington