Report: Chiefs give Branden Albert permission to meet with Dolphins

[AussieChiefsFan]

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 18, 2013, 12:01 PM EDT

Report: Chiefs give Branden Albert permission to meet with Dolphins

With the Chiefs considering a trade that would send left tackle Branden Albert to Miami in exchange for one of the Dolphins’ second-round draft picks, Kansas City has taken a big step toward getting a deal done by giving Albert permission to meet with the Dolphins.

Albert signed his one-year, $9.8 million tender offer as the Chiefs’ franchise player, which means he’s under contract and only permitted to talk to other teams if the Chiefs grant him that permission. And according to John Clayton of ESPN, that’s exactly what has happened: The Chiefs have given the Dolphins permission to talk to Albert, who lives in Miami, and he is expected to visit the Dolphins’ facility and take a physical.

The Dolphins are the only team that has received permission from the Chiefs to talk to Albert. Any team that would trade for Albert would surely want him to agree to a long-term contract first, so this week’s visit will presumably include negotiations with Albert’s agent in addition to a physical.

A high second-round pick is reportedly the price tag the Chiefs have put on Albert. The Dolphins have two second-round picks, their own (No. 42 overall) and the Colts’ (No. 54 overall).

Miami wants to upgrade at left tackle after losing Jake Long to the Rams. The top three left tackles in this year’s draft (Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher and Lane Johnson) are all likely to be off the board before the Dolphins’ first-round pick, No. 12 overall, comes up. So if the Dolphins are going to make that upgrade, trading for Albert is probably a better bet than relying on a rookie.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...with-dolphins/

[KC_Lee]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

I've said this multiple times also Bray will either be an Elite Franchise QB or he'll be out of the league within 4 years. If he gets his shit together he's Dan Marino, and just like Dan when he was young if he takes this opportunity seriously then the sky is the limit.

In total agreement with you on this; Bray is boom or bust with no middle ground.

And will only boom if he's allowed to sit a learn / develop from a coach that has a rep for developing QB's.

[Priest31kc]

Friday, April 19th

Chiefs Give Dolphins Permission to talk to Branden Albert’s Agent

At its core, the prospect of Kansas City trading Albert to the Dolphins makes sense; the Dolphins need a quality left tackle as the thought of entering the season with Jonathan Martin there is worrying while the Chiefs’ front office seems to have soured on Albert so much they feel taking a tackle with the No. 1 overall pick is a good option. There’s multiple parts to this particular jigsaw but as it all centers on Albert let’s start there and examine just how good he is.

Despite my protestations to the contrary I’ve seen many people quote our stats to the effect “Albert is PFF’s 25th-ranked tackle in 2012 or 17th-ranked left tackle”. This paints him as a mid-tier player and as such not a huge upgrade on Martin. I think that’s taking our work out of context and not fair on Albert who I personally feel is a much better player than that.

If you, like I, assume pass blocking is the most important part of a tackle’s job and rate players in that order he becomes the 11th-rated tackle and ninth-placed left tackle. Further, when you dig into our advanced normalization data (we don’t have this on the site but it takes account of teams whose quarterback gets rid of the ball quickly, giving them an unfair advantage) he becomes the sixth tackle with only Joe Thomas, Russell Okung, Michael Roos, Andrew Whitworth and Ryan Clady ahead of him. As for his run blocking, it’s always been a little disappointing for an ex-guard but not problematic and similar to those other tackles I’ve just mentioned with the exception of Okung who is better than the rest in that regard.

On that basis Albert should be looking for a contract similar to the one Will Beatty signed before free agency at $7.5M per year. He’s a better player than Jermon Bushrod who got $7M from the Bears and although he has better history than Beatty doesn’t have Giants upside or ability as a run blocker so something equivalent is equitable. I’m sure the Dolphins would prefer to only give up a three in exchange but a two is probably a fairer reflection of his worth.

So for Miami, if they can get Albert for the above, still have a No. 1 pick to bolster their defense and shore up the biggest weakness on the team, the deal would be a good one but what about Kansas City?

This is where I struggle with the whole thing frankly. The Chiefs are a very talented team who but for a perfect storm of issues shouldn’t have been close to the first pick in the draft. They now have that golden opportunity and seem to be on the verge of using it to make a lateral move. I have no idea how good Luke Joeckel is or will become (or any of the other tackles for that matter) but I do know he is still just a tackle and tackles do not win games; particularly if you had a good player at that position anyway. Even if Joeckel becomes the best left tackle in the league, the difference between him and Branden Albert is probably five to 10 additional QB disruptions a year on 500 passing attempts – so a best case scenario gives you a 1-2% improvement – is that really great value?

With the rookie wage cap expect the first pick to save Kansas City maybe $2M a year on Albert, pick up at very best a marginally better player and net them a second round pick (which as we know from Khaled’s recent Draft Grader series, is still a lottery).

Call me wild, but for a team as loaded in many positions as the Chiefs, that looks like a singularly unambitious strategy.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blo...april-19-2013/

[caligula]

that's a kind way of pointing out how stupid this is....

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by caligula

that's a kind way of pointing out how stupid this is....

Yep. We were ranked as one of the most "snakebitten" franchises in NFL history. Here's a clue; if you don't prod and/or **** with the snake(ie; make a bunch of ****-tarded decisions), you don't get bitten. IMAGINE THAT!
Posted via Mobile Device

[saphojunkie]

This whole situation just screams one simple fact that none of us want to admit:

Andy Reid does not like Geno Smith. Period. End of story. It's not that they love Joeckel. It's that they hate Geno. They're going for the tackle, because at least there you can get a good player, save some money, and punt on your QB issue until next year.

I'm sure this isn't the scenario they wanted, but it seems like they're doing their best to salvage any kind of value from a completely ****ed up draft. I hate it, but I understand it. But I hate it.

Basically, they got chicken shit and were tasked with making chicken salad.


They have now made chicken shit salad.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Chicken poop.
Posted via Mobile Device

[-King-]

Originally Posted by Priest31kc

Friday, April 19th

Chiefs Give Dolphins Permission to talk to Branden Albert’s Agent

At its core, the prospect of Kansas City trading Albert to the Dolphins makes sense; the Dolphins need a quality left tackle as the thought of entering the season with Jonathan Martin there is worrying while the Chiefs’ front office seems to have soured on Albert so much they feel taking a tackle with the No. 1 overall pick is a good option. There’s multiple parts to this particular jigsaw but as it all centers on Albert let’s start there and examine just how good he is.

Despite my protestations to the contrary I’ve seen many people quote our stats to the effect “Albert is PFF’s 25th-ranked tackle in 2012 or 17th-ranked left tackle”. This paints him as a mid-tier player and as such not a huge upgrade on Martin. I think that’s taking our work out of context and not fair on Albert who I personally feel is a much better player than that.

If you, like I, assume pass blocking is the most important part of a tackle’s job and rate players in that order he becomes the 11th-rated tackle and ninth-placed left tackle. Further, when you dig into our advanced normalization data (we don’t have this on the site but it takes account of teams whose quarterback gets rid of the ball quickly, giving them an unfair advantage) he becomes the sixth tackle with only Joe Thomas, Russell Okung, Michael Roos, Andrew Whitworth and Ryan Clady ahead of him. As for his run blocking, it’s always been a little disappointing for an ex-guard but not problematic and similar to those other tackles I’ve just mentioned with the exception of Okung who is better than the rest in that regard.

On that basis Albert should be looking for a contract similar to the one Will Beatty signed before free agency at $7.5M per year. He’s a better player than Jermon Bushrod who got $7M from the Bears and although he has better history than Beatty doesn’t have Giants upside or ability as a run blocker so something equivalent is equitable. I’m sure the Dolphins would prefer to only give up a three in exchange but a two is probably a fairer reflection of his worth.

So for Miami, if they can get Albert for the above, still have a No. 1 pick to bolster their defense and shore up the biggest weakness on the team, the deal would be a good one but what about Kansas City?

This is where I struggle with the whole thing frankly. The Chiefs are a very talented team who but for a perfect storm of issues shouldn’t have been close to the first pick in the draft. They now have that golden opportunity and seem to be on the verge of using it to make a lateral move. I have no idea how good Luke Joeckel is or will become (or any of the other tackles for that matter) but I do know he is still just a tackle and tackles do not win games; particularly if you had a good player at that position anyway. Even if Joeckel becomes the best left tackle in the league, the difference between him and Branden Albert is probably five to 10 additional QB disruptions a year on 500 passing attempts – so a best case scenario gives you a 1-2% improvement – is that really great value?

With the rookie wage cap expect the first pick to save Kansas City maybe $2M a year on Albert, pick up at very best a marginally better player and net them a second round pick (which as we know from Khaled’s recent Draft Grader series, is still a lottery).

Call me wild, but for a team as loaded in many positions as the Chiefs, that looks like a singularly unambitious strategy.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blo...april-19-2013/

Standing ovation.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

This whole situation just screams one simple fact that none of us want to admit:

Andy Reid does not like Geno Smith. Period. End of story. It's not that they love Joeckel. It's that they hate Geno. They're going for the tackle, because at least there you can get a good player, save some money, and punt on your QB issue until next year.

I'm sure this isn't the scenario they wanted, but it seems like they're doing their best to salvage any kind of value from a completely ****ed up draft. I hate it, but I understand it. But I hate it.

Basically, they got chicken shit and were tasked with making chicken salad.


They have now made chicken shit salad.

I think Reid et al. like QBs in this draft, they just don't see them at 1.1. I imagine they'll take a QB at some point, good, bad or indifferent.

[KCDC]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

This whole situation just screams one simple fact that none of us want to admit:

Andy Reid does not like Geno Smith. Period. End of story. It's not that they love Joeckel. It's that they hate Geno. They're going for the tackle, because at least there you can get a good player, save some money, and punt on your QB issue until next year.

I'm sure this isn't the scenario they wanted, but it seems like they're doing their best to salvage any kind of value from a completely ****ed up draft. I hate it, but I understand it. But I hate it.

Basically, they got chicken shit and were tasked with making chicken salad.


They have now made chicken shit salad.

New Regimes come in and dislike players and do stupid things. Pioli cut Brian Waters and Bernard Pollard because he did not like their attitude. Both went to the Pro Bowl afterwards with their new teams.

It is a human weakness and a sign of ego to want to give away talent (e.g. Albert) because you don't have "chemistry" with them.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by KCDC

New Regimes come in and dislike players and do stupid things. ***** cut Brian Waters and Bernard Pollard because he did not like their attitude. Both went to the Pro Bowl afterwards with their new teams.

It is a human weakness and a sign of ego to want to give away talent (e.g. Albert) because you don't have "chemistry" with them.

Waters was half-assing it and needed to go

Pollard was a box-only safety who didn't look good until he got surround by Ed Reed and rest of the Baltimore defense. Most fans around KC thought Pollard sucked until he started playing well in Baltimore.

[Chiefaholic]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I think Reid et al. like QBs in this draft, they just don't see them at 1.1. I imagine they'll take a QB at some point, good, bad or indifferent.

As it stands, Dorsey has a pretty decent reputation in talent evaluation until proven otherwise. I believe the CP hype on Geno is based more on desperation, rather than actual talent. Fans WANT that franchise caliber QB that other franchises have, yet general consensus from most talent evaluators tend to disagree with the opinion of most CP posters. Why waste the 1.1 on a "Dave Kreig" prospect when we have the option of a very strong O-Line class and a handful of top prospects at a few other positions? If I were GM, I'd trade down 2-3 spots, get your guy, as well as another top prospect in the top of the 2nd.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

They're going for the tackle, because at least there you can get a good player, save some money, and punt on your QB issue until next year.
.

A lie.

We'll go 8-8 and probably something like that the following year, too.

There will be no shot at a top flight QB for this team for the foreseeable future.

ALEX SMITH COME ON DOWN AND LOVE US FOREVER

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Chiefaholic

As it stands, Dorsey has a pretty decent reputation in talent evaluation until proven otherwise. I believe the CP hype on Geno is based more on desperation, rather than actual talent. Fans WANT that franchise caliber QB that other franchises have, yet general consensus from most talent evaluators tend to disagree with the opinion of most CP posters. Why waste the 1.1 on a "Dave Kreig" prospect when we have the option of a very strong O-Line class and a handful of top prospects at a few other positions? If I were GM, I'd trade down 2-3 spots, get your guy, as well as another top prospect in the top of the 2nd.

I think that has to be the plan.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Wonton Prejudice

A lie.

We'll go 8-8 and probably something like that the following year, too.

There will be no shot at a top flight QB for this team for the foreseeable future.

ALEX SMITH COME ON DOWN AND LOVE US FOREVER

Yet Smith's replacement in SF was found in the 2nd round.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Yet Smith's replacement in SF was found in the 2nd round.

Exception to the rule.


Do we REALLY need to go through this year after year?