The Miami Dolphins have released team captain and starting safety Bobby McCain, the team announced Thursday.
The Dolphins later made an addition to their secondary, agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with former New England Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty, a source told ESPN.
McCain, a fifth-round draft pick by the Dolphins in 2015, had 46 tackles and an interception in 2020. In his six seasons with the team, he had 7 interceptions, 4 sacks and a forced fumble.
He is scheduled to visit the Washington Football Team on a free agent visit Monday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
McCain, who was due a $6.4 million non-guaranteed salary this season, started 55 of 87 games for the Dolphins. After the transaction, Miami would create $5.6 million in cap space and have roughly $1.5 million in dead money.
He had signed a four-year, $27 million extension with the Dolphins in June 2018.
Miami selected free safety Jevon Holland in the second round of this year's NFL draft, and Dolphins coach Brian Flores said Holland potentially could become the team's defensive leader.
McCourty, 33, has 137 career starts, including 11 last season for the Patriots. He will be reunited Flores, a former Patriots assistant. The chance to play for Flores again was a driving factor in McCourty's decision, a source told ESPN's Mike Reiss.
McCourty has also played for Tennessee and Cleveland.
Tight end Jibri Blount, who played basketball at North Carolina Central and was the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference player of the year in 2019-20, was also signed and took McCain's roster spot.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.