Last week, the Miami Dolphins decided to part ways with Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey after seven seasons due to his decision not to take a pay cut. It immediately made him the top player available player at his position on the open market.
It didn't take long for Pouncey to line up potential suitors, as the Los Angeles Chargers held a visit with the 28-year-old on Sunday. The Chargers officially announced the signing of the veteran center to a two-year, $15 million deal with $10 million guaranteed (terms per Adam Schefter).
We've agreed to terms on a two-year deal with Center Mike Pouncey. pic.twitter.com/LhaJTIusGW
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) March 19, 2018
The addition of Pouncey is a significant upgrade at the position for LA, as the team has struggled to find a long-term replacement since Nick Hardwick retired after the 2014 season. As a result, acquiring Pouncey became a priority for the organization.
It should provide more stability for the Chargers to effectively protect Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers while being able to run more efficiently up the middle.
During his tenure with the Dolphins, he had established himself as one of the top centers in the league behind three Pro Bowl selections. In fact, he became the third player in team history to earn Pro Bowl nods at two different positions while playing both center and guard, joining the likes of Cameron Wake and Randy Starks.
Pouncey declined to take a pay cut from Miami, actually looking to get a paise raise from the team. This quickly led to him requesting to be let out of his five-year, $52.15 million extension that still had three years left. The decision to part ways with Pouncey became feasible when the team signed Pro Bowl offensive guard Josh Sitton and traded for veteran center Daniel Kilgore.
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