Dolphins working on a trade for offensive tackle Branden Albert

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Branden Albert trade won’t happen unless he lowers his price
Posted by Michael David Smith on April 21, 2013, 6:46 PM EDT
Branden Albert AP

The much-discussed potential trade of Branden Albert from the Chiefs to the Dolphins doesn’t appear likely at the price Albert is currently seeking.

Although the Chiefs and Dolphins can probably agree on compensation — the Dolphins sending a second-round pick to Kansas City — the hangup is that Albert wants the kind of money that the Dolphins aren’t willing to spend. Specifically, according to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports, Albert wants between $8 million and $9 million a year on a long-term deal.

In other words, Albert is looking for the same kind of contract that left tackle Jake Long got from the Rams — the very contract the Dolphins wouldn’t give Long, which is why he left Miami for St. Louis.

If the Dolphins weren’t willing to pay Long that kind of money, it’s hard to see why they’d be willing to give up a second-round draft pick for the privilege of paying Albert that kind of money. So the Dolphins may need to look elsewhere for a left tackle. And Albert may have to settle for playing this season for the Chiefs, making $9.8 million, and hitting free agency next year.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by SNR

It's about the RISE in production that the rookie gives you. It's not about just simply getting him on the field.

Drafting Joeckel/Fisher and having them play AT Branden Albert's current ability would be huge. And if that happens, we're breaking even. The only benefits we get out of it are we're getting younger and cheaper at the LT position.

The only way to actually make this deal sing would be for our 2nd round pick from the Dolphins to be the badassiest badass in the history of the Chiefs drafting in the 2nd round. We're talking immediate starter and instant sensation.

You assume away anything that's inconvenient for the story you want to tell. If, on the other hand, Branden Albert was not going to be here beyond his franchise tag indenturement, replacing him with a Branden Albert quality player that we control for 4 years is a big improvement (not just breaking even) in addition to being younger and cheaper.

I'm not sure why you directed your post at me in the first place. Do you have an opinion on whether or not offensive tackle is a position that takes less transition time to the NFL than most other positions?

[-King-]

5 days for him to get traded. He wont be traded on draft day unless the Dolphins choose to not have him visit and take a physical.
Posted via Mobile Device

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by patteeu

You assume away anything that's inconvenient for the story you want to tell. If, on the other hand, Branden Albert was not going to be here beyond his franchise tag indenturement, replacing him with a Branden Albert quality player that we control for 4 years is a big improvement (not just breaking even) in addition to being younger and cheaper.

I'm not sure why you directed your post at me in the first place. Do you have an opinion on whether or not offensive tackle is a position that takes less transition time to the NFL than most other positions?

The assumptions go both ways, bud.

And I was responding to your 2nd paragraph.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by -King-

5 days for him to get traded. He wont be traded on draft day unless the Dolphins choose to not have him visit and take a physical.
Posted via Mobile Device

Five days? How do you get five days?

They could trade for him next Friday, which is seven days.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by SNR

The assumptions go both ways, bud.

And I was responding to your 2nd paragraph.

You're not responding to it very well then. I have no idea how your response relates to mine.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Five days? How do you get five days?

They could trade for him next Friday, which is seven days.

Why would the Dolphins make a trade without giving him a physical first or even having him come for a visit? That HAS to happen before the trade becomes official. And they're not having him visit during the draft. Especially after the first round has already passed on Thursday.

[-King-]

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/

[RealSNR]

I expect a 1.1 draftee to be an impact player from the very beginning.

Originally Posted by SNR

It's about the RISE in production that the rookie gives you. It's not about just simply getting him on the field.

Drafting Joeckel/Fisher and having them play AT Branden Albert's current ability would be huge. And if that happens, we're breaking even. The only benefits we get out of it are we're getting younger and cheaper at the LT position.

The only way to actually make this deal sing would be for our 2nd round pick from the Dolphins to be the badassiest badass in the history of the Chiefs drafting in the 2nd round. We're talking immediate starter and instant sensation.

What more do you want me to explain?

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by SNR

What more do you want me to explain?

How it relates to my response to BossChief's question (as opposed to the fictional question you want me to be answering).

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by patteeu

How it relates to my response to BossChief's question (as opposed to the fictional question you want me to be answering).

I wasn't talking about BossChief's question

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Do you have an opinion on whether or not offensive tackle is a position that takes less transition time to the NFL than most other positions?

It is different for every player. To try and generalize it seems silly, IMO. There are quite a few variables that come into play.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by SNR

I wasn't talking about BossChief's question

You were if you were addressing my second paragraph. But being oblivious to the topic explains why your response didn't make any sense.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by Ponderception

It is different for every player. To try and generalize it seems silly, IMO. There are quite a few variables that come into play.

OK, then you would agree that the following generalizations are pretty silly too, right?

Originally Posted by O.city

He plays a position [left tackle] that doesn't normally take alot of progressing from college to the NFL.

Originally Posted by BossChief

Yeah, it is. Good left tackles are usually good right away.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by patteeu

You were if you were addressing my second paragraph. But being oblivious to the topic explains why your response didn't make any sense.

Okay. YOU explain how my comment doesn't make sense with your second paragraph. I'm not getting it.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by -King-

Why would the Dolphins make a trade without giving him a physical first or even having him come for a visit? That HAS to happen before the trade becomes official. And they're not having him visit during the draft. Especially after the first round has already passed on Thursday.

So, they can't give him a physical next Friday, before the second round begins?

Care to explain why not?