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Breaking: 49ers trade center Daniel Kilgore to the Dolphins

By Peter Panacy

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 04: Daniel Kilgore #67 of the San Francisco 49ers walks toward the locker room at the conclusion of the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 4, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Bears defeat the San Francisco 49ers 26-6. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 04: Daniel Kilgore #67 of the San Francisco 49ers walks toward the locker room at the conclusion of the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 4, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Bears defeat the San Francisco 49ers 26-6. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers cleared up room for free-agent signee Weston Richburg by trading away long-time center Daniel Kilgore to the Miami Dolphins.

There won’t be anymore questions about a possible San Francisco 49ers camp competitions between recently acquired free agent, center Weston Richburg, and the incumbent, Daniel Kilgore.

Kilgore is off to the Miami Dolphins now — a move reported by the Niners website Thursday morning.

According to the Miami Herald’s Armando Salguero, the teams will also swap seventh-round picks in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Kilgore, 30 years old, recently signed a three-year extension with San Francisco after coming on late in 2017, especially with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm. Overall, Kilgore’s Pro Football Focus overall grade last year was 51.0 — ranked 23rd among 36 qualifying guards.

But as Niner Noise broke down last month, Kilgore’s play improved dramatically once Garoppolo took over starting duties.

That move made sense at the time. Yet with the Niners bringing aboard Richburg, who is vastly superior at center and a seamless fit within head coach Kyle Shanahan’s zone-style offense, Kilgore became something of an excess commodity.

Now the Dolphins will be responsible for that contract.

Kilgore had injury issues too. 2017 marked the only time he appeared in all 16 games after taking over starting duties three years before.

General manager John Lynch had the following to say about Kilgore:

"On behalf of the entire organization I want to thank Dan for everything he contributed to this team and the Bay Area community over the last seven seasons. When Kyle and I arrived last offseason, we knew right away that he was a well-respected leader in the locker room and a true professional. We are pleased to be able to help find Dan a great situation to be able to continue his career, and we wish him and his wife, Megan, the very best."

While it might seem like a slight to move Kilgore, it does give him a better chance to start in Miami. It’s highly unlikely he would have unseated Richburg in 2018 or at any point thereafter.

Next: Grading the first wave of 49ers' 2018 free agents

With Richburg having all but locked up the job now, expect Lynch and Co. to acquire some depth along the interior in April’s draft.