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Report: Dolphins to release Albert, Tunsil expected to take over as starter

Al Bello / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Miami Dolphins will release starting left tackle Branden Albert on Thursday, a source informed Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Such a move opens the door for 2016 first-round draft pick Laremy Tunsil to move from guard to left tackle.

Tunsil was expected to be a top pick in last year's draft, but a controversial video of him smoking a bong while wearing a gas mask surfaced just minutes before the event and prompted his slide down the board to the Dolphins at No. 13.

The Dolphins felt fortunate to have drafted such an athlete, and after one season with Tunsil in tow, a front office exec has tabbed him as a future Hall of Famer, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Tunsil won the starting left guard spot out of training camp, but played at left tackle during his college career at Ole Miss.

As for Albert, he started in 12 games for the Dolphins in 2016, but the team was afforded a glimpse of the future when Albert missed two games due to injury and Tunsil started in his place.

Albert was set to make $8.875 million in 2017 and count $10.6 million against the cap. Instead, the 32-year-old will be one of the top available left tackles when free agency begins.

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