Dolphins discussing trade for Branden Albert.

Thanks. I think I fixed it now. Not sure why it didn't work the first time.

 

Worked for me just now. Doesn't paint a very good picture of his play. I would not want the player they described (Albert) particularly for the money it sounds like it would cost.

 

I'd much rather get Winston at RT for nothing and let Martin be LT, then trade a 2 for Albert and force Martin back to RT.

 

Yikes, not a very complimentary picture of his play as a LT at all, makes me even less keen on trading a high pick, along with a high salary, for him.

I really hope the talk is just the usual pre-draft smokescreen.

 

I don't think it's $9M per season. I think he's owed $9M THIS season because they placed the tag on him. I think we could work out a deal that would pay him less than that over a few years. Long has really fallen off the last two years. He's not worth as much as Albert.

They are letting Albert go because they have the #1 draft pick and can easily select LT Joeckel there. They would pay Joeckel a portion of Alberts salary for the next 5 years. It's nothing more then a way for the team to save money over the next 5 years. A smart move in my opinion.

I think we can make the deal without trading a pick at all to them. Right now they HAVE TO pay Albert the $9M fro this year because of the franchise tag. If another team steps in and trades for him, they are essentially helping KC out of a very tough situation. KC messed up by placing such a high tender on Albert. If no team takes Albert, they will have a salary cap issue for a while. I hope Ireland holds out until the day before the draft. I think KC's price will be much lower then.

 

So they would get compensation if he left. We would have done the same with Long if his franchise number had been the same as Albert and not $15m+

 

Good look on that article. Normally BR is below par but two things jumped out to me there:
1. People have cited Albert's low sack/hits/pressures but the two best edge rushers he faced last year were John Abraham in week 1 and Michael Johnson in week 11. And he performed poorly. If you thought Jake Long was bad against speed rushers then think again. Albert simply doesnt possess the foot speed to deal with any kind of speed rush.

2. That article does a wonderful job of breaking down where Albert's flaws are. Speed rushers also presented problems for him in the running game as well. He was unable to consistently seal the edge for Charles which for a speed back is a necessity. He couldnt land that first punch in time.

That article should be required reading for Jeff Ireland before he makes this deal. If he still wants to give up more then a late 3 for Albert after reading that he must think Albert is a hell of a good LG because hes an average LT.

 

People are struggling with classifying this draft class, but to me, it lacks top elite QBs and elite prospects overall, but is stacked in the first 2.5-3 rounds of just below elite prospects.

Basically I don't see a lot of potential Hall of Fame guys, but a whole lot of Top 5 at their respective positions in a given year. Because of that, I'm not a huge fan of giving up picks. There's a possibility to stock our team unlike any other year.

 

A couple of thoughts.

1. I wish certain people could actually discuss this without oozing condescension toward anyone who has a different opinion.

2. Between these Albert talks heating up and the constant background noise about a move up to #3 or #6 for Joeckel, Fisher or Johnson, there's definitely a suggestion that Jon Martin at left tackle is being viewed as an option of last resort. There's been much speculation (based on scant photographic evidence) on whether Jon Martin has made significant gains in his strength training this off season. Perhaps the Dolphins aren't satisfied he has?

3. I think Miami might do well to hold Kansas City's feet to the fire on this one. The upside is bigger than the down side. If you force KC to draft at #1 and they take Joeckel/Fisher, then they lose leverage in their demands on Albert. The price should fall, at that point. On the other hand if KC calls the bluff and drafts someone else because they have Albert, that pushes the tackles down the board to within striking range of a sensible trade up. I'm not for the move up to #3 overall for Joeckel but that trade suddenly becomes a reality because KC passing on him would make it so. On the other hand, you'll have significantly increase the chances of Eric Fisher or Lane Johnson being available at #6 overall. If that's the case you may be able to move up in exchange for the #77 overall and Davone Bess. I would do that for Lane Johnson. Of all the players in the Draft he's one of the few I view as not just being a starter but somewhere down the road being a pro bowler, and presenting a team with unique options to add things to the playbook.

 

Really? I was thinking this has been one the more respectable threads on this site in awhile.

It is certainly a possibility.

Agreed. Is there a real benefit for Miami to make this trade before KC makes their first pick?

 

On Twitter, when Fins Jessie tweeted Omar's story before Omar did, a follower pointed it out to Omar. Omar said something along the lines of that he was busy "bartering information". Is it possible the Phins had Kelly put this out as a smoke screen, which he agreed to do in exchange for some legit information? I think if we see an "insider" story from Omar come out soon, it may have been the case.

 

If this is the case, then offer the first 3rd and call it a day...the burden comes from Miami TAKING on his 9+ salary AND the fact it is a one year rental....

Forget 1st of 2nd rounders forget it......Irish needs to play hardball here....

 

Honestly, I think this whole thing stinks all around.

First off, I think it's a dumb move by the Chiefs to trade away a guy who is a solid left tackle for a second round pick (or a third round pick and a role-playing wideout as has been suggested) only to spend the first overall pick in the draft on his replacement who has never played a down in the NFL. How many games did the Chiefs lose last year because Brandon Albert isn't good enough? (Hint: rhymes with hero). How about using that number one overall pick to, I don't know, fix your 27th-ranked run defense?

Secondly, the Dolphins draft a solid left tackle in the 2nd round and start him off on the right side to get his feet wet, then move him over to the left side when their starting LT gets injured 3/4 the way into the season. Martin isn't immediately a world-beater but he's a rookie and just flipped positions (sides) again so a little struggle should be expected. Season ends, they let their starting LT walk (who does that, really?), then (reportedly) look to spend a second day pick acquiring his replacement on a guy that's the same age and just average? Why? Martin should be a better LT than he is a RT IMO. I don't know, you guys should know better than me, but he didn't seem much like a RT in college. Compared to spending a day 2 pick on a RT, they're spending a second round draft pick to get older at LT (vs. Martin at LT) and probably worse at RT (vs. a Fluker or Jordan Mills or Menelik Watson) with Martin out of position again.

This just looks like bad asset management for both teams to me. Maybe I'm way off base, I don't know. JMO.

 

No, the Dolphins shouldn't have tagged Long over Starks. KC is playing with fire, and they wouldn't be taking this risk unless they thought highly of Albert.

 

Chiefs have given Miami permission to negotiate contract talks with Brandon Albert

Off espn but I cant copy paste the link from my phone

 

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9...kansas-city-chiefs-talk-branden-albert-source

 

So the Chiefs are going to draft Luke Joeckel no matter what.

Is that them actually trying to take leverage back from Miami? With Joeckel going #1, the chances of Lane Johnson being available at #6 are reduced...but still could easily happen.

I dunno, to me I see that as more leverage in Miami's favor. The Chiefs have to ditch Branden Albert now. He's made it clear he's not changing positions.

Do this for a 3rd round pick and I think you'll have done well for yourself.

 

I don't like giving up a 2 for this guy. Would much rather just sign Winston, and trust Martin to continue to develop into a solid LT.

 

I'm hoping it's not a 2nd we're giving up, even if it was a 3rd and a future conditional pick (especially considering his injury history) wouldn't be too bad. Will just have to wait and see what comes out next, there's still a way to go before it's all agreed.

 

Maybe my hearing is going bad, but I swear the chick on NFLN announcing news updates just said Miami could be willing to give up their two second round picks for Albert. That's right, she said it to sound like both of them. That cannot be true, or I just misheard what she said. Ok, I went back and listened again. She did say, quoting Rappaport, "their two second round picks". Still must have been wrong. That would just be totally unbelievable.

 

I think at this point its clear Miami isn't leaving anything up to trust, hope, or chance.

 

Sure we would, NFLN. For the late 2nd or a 3rd though..

 

I hope this isn't true, it would be a bad move.

Branden Albert is not the Brandon Marshall of LT's.

 

Trading for Albert is leaving it up to hope or trust that he does not continue to have back problems. How many games did he miss last season due to his balky back?

 

Not like we wouldn't be adding more depth or don't have any on the OL already though.

 

...

 

Yeah, I'd be more comfortable if it were a 3rd and a future conditional pick based on his health/playing time. If it weren't for his back and potential contract I wouldn't have much of an issue giving up a 2nd rounder for him. It can be argued that when healthy, he's been better than anyone we've drafted in the 2nd round in years.

 

Well I would assume if the trade is made that the team doctors gave the green light.

 

I'm not happy with trading one 2nd rounder for him, but if Ireland gave up both, I'd lead the lynch mob to Davie, Fla.

 

This sounds all a bit rushed. Has the 2nd round pick already been agreed? (depending on medical)

 

Well I guess it wouldn't be Ireland without at least one bonehead offseason move. By the way so much for the team's faith in Martin manning the left side, maybe we don't do this if he was simply subpar as a rookie, instead of being horrible.

I'd rather sign McKinnie or Gaither for a fraction of Albert's price and we keep the pick, then again it's not like our GM's had much success in the 2nd round anyway

 

Backs are tough to predict though. I sure wouldn't be comfortable with giving up the reported draft picks and also a multiyear salary such as Albert is seeking, for a player with a history of back problems. YMMV, and apparently does.

 

I doubt it's been rushed. They've probably been engaged in discussions for while now and only took it up to the next level when the Chiefs finally decided who they wanted to pick #1.

 

Let's not count our chickens, now. Yeesh, so reactionary. Martin wasn't drafted to exclusively play LT, let's not forget that. We sign one of those vets and we are still searching for a tackle next year anyways, and you've totally contradicted your initial attitude by the last statement in your post.

 

McKinnie and Gaither are a fraction of the price, and a fraction of the ability.

 

Albert will be visiting the Dolphins tomorrow.

 

McKinnie only started 5 games last season, counting playoffs, but in that span he played as well as Albert did. He is going on 34 yrs old, but you get him for no draft pick compensation, less money, and give Martin another year to develop.

 

I disagree, McKinnie stabilized the Ravens OL and he pretty much erased Aldon Smith in the super bowl, and when Gaither is actually on the field he's a damn good tackle. Even if you do think Albert's better than both, is he THAT much better to pay him all that money and give up a high draft pick?

 

IMO, yes. Albert one of the better LTs in the NFL.