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.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by cockeyes

If he won't take less than what he's asking Miami for, then the equation is deal him now or pay him for a malcontent year and then watch him walk

Except you really can't deal him unless he agrees to a long term contract extention. And it appears that isn't going to happen.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

What planet do you live on?

HOF levels immediately? Do you read the garbage you write? All you're doing is basically declaring a pick a failure from day 1 so you can spew your typical garbage on this board.

Exactly. I may not like it if they take him, but everything's relative to the player's available for selection. I'd rather take a shot on Geno, but if Joke does turn out to be pretty good and Geno busts I'll eat crow.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by cockeyes

If we are only looking for the safe bets, Alex Smith and Luke Joeckel are the moves least likely to be busts.

There you go.

Alex Smith has NEVER thrown 20 TD's.

NEVER.

20 TD's is very average for a starting QB. You might screw up and hit 10 or even 18 INT's while throwing 30.

He never did. He never even hit the NFL average for "good."

He is as safe as safe gets and there is no more perfect a leashed game manager as it comes.

There is no upside here. He'll NEVER hit 25 TD's in a year.

Ever.

Looking back everything about this offseason and our (assumed) draft strategy is looking for "SAFE."

[philfree]

I guess a good question is ask is Waht's the OT market look like next year? If it's going to be like this year I bet he lowers his demands in the end.

[ChiefsCountry]

Considering two out of the three first overall picks that were left tackles are Hall of Famers or will be (Pace), Joeckyl better get to that level in his career.

[philfree]

Originally Posted by Rausch

There you go.

Alex Smith has NEVER thrown 20 TD's.

NEVER.

20 TD's is very average for a starting QB. You might screw up and hit 10 or even 18 INT's while throwing 30.

He never did. He never even hit the NFL average for "good."

He is as safe as safe gets and there is no more perfect a leashed game manager as it comes.

There is no upside here. He'll NEVER hit 25 TD's in a year. Ever.

Looking back everything about this offseason and our (assumed) draft strategy is looking for "SAFE."

He's been on pace to throw about that many a couple times but he was injured. Just saying :shurg:

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by philfree

I guess a god question is ask is Waht's the OT market look like next year? If it's going to be like this year I bet he lowers his demands in the end.

I doubt there's been a year in the last 20 with so many talented T's.

C seems to be really week but outside of that this draft is a True-Fan's dream...

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by philfree

They'll be alot of this going on. People becaue they're butt hurt will set impossible parameters to judge Joekell by so they can scream bust and point fingers at Reid and Dorsey. Should make for some good reading.

What is a reasonable performance to get out of 1.1 when all you're doing is upgrading from a guy that was average at his worst and very good at his best.

Yes, anything less than All-Pro out of Fisher/Joeckel is a failure. And if you get 5+ years of All-Pro performance out of a LT, you're starting to discuss HOF consideration.

For a 1.1 LT we should reasonably expect his rookie deal plus strong performance through his 2nd contract; in other words 6-8 years of peak or near peak performance. And given that all he will be is a slight upgrade and cost savings on Albert, expecting All-Pro performance out of him during that time is not at all unreasonable.

Immediate HOF? No, that's not fair. But if you're going to use 1.1 on a goddamn LT when you already have one, then yes, anything short of HOF consideration towards the end of his career makes it an underwhelming pick.

I don't see what is unreasonable about that.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by philfree

He's been on pace to throw about that many a couple times but he he was injured. Just saying :shurg:

Gentleman's bet: he hit's 25 TD's in the next two years you get my sig until he's gone.

If after two years he doesn't throw 25 TD's I get your sig for a year.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

What is a reasonable performance to get out of 1.1 when all you're doing is upgrading from a guy that was average at his worst and very good at his best.

Yes, anything less than All-Pro out of Fisher/Joeckel is a failure. And if you get 5+ years of All-Pro performance out of a LT, you're starting to discuss HOF consideration.

For a 1.1 LT we should reasonably expect his rookie deal plus strong performance through his 2nd contract; in other words 6-8 years of peak or near peak performance. And given that all he will be is a slight upgrade and cost savings on Albert, expecting All-Pro performance out of him during that time is not at all unreasonable.

Immediate HOF? No, that's not fair. But if you're going to use 1.1 on a goddamn LT when you already have one, then yes, anything short of HOF consideration towards the end of his career makes it an underwhelming pick.

I don't see what is unreasonable about that.

What's unreasonable about that is that it ignores the weakness of top of the draft, the demands of the current LT, and the realities of the salary cap and the NFL in general.

[philfree]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

What is a reasonable performance to get out of 1.1 when all you're doing is upgrading from a guy that was average at his worst and very good at his best.

Yes, anything less than All-Pro out of Fisher/Joeckel is a failure. And if you get 5+ years of All-Pro performance out of a LT, you're starting to discuss HOF consideration.

For a 1.1 LT we should reasonably expect his rookie deal plus strong performance through his 2nd contract; in other words 6-8 years of peak or near peak performance. And given that all he will be is a slight upgrade and cost savings on Albert, expecting All-Pro performance out of him during that time is not at all unreasonable.

Immediate HOF? No, that's not fair. But if you're going to use 1.1 on a goddamn LT when you already have one, then yes, anything short of HOF consideration towards the end of his career makes it an underwhelming pick.I don't see what is unreasonable about that.

Expectations should be high but discussing HOF before a player has ever taken a snap is kind of silly IMO. Do all #1 overall picks end up in the HOF? Is that the litmus? I'll answer and say "NO!"

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

What's unreasonable about that is that it ignores the weakness of top of the draft, the demands of the current LT, and the realities of the salary cap and the NFL in general.

So you're content with using 1.1 on salary relief?

Because that's what it sounds like - getting a younger version of Albert and saving on the long-term contract demands would be sufficient for you?

There will be superstar talent that comes out of this draft - there always is. We have the first shot at it. The pick had better be a goddamn HR.

[Carlota69]

Originally Posted by tomahawk kid

Seeing this plays out, almost makes you wonder if Dorsey's letting Albert and his people see the market, in order to re-sign him here for less money.

Doesn't seem like the popular belief, just playing devil's advocate.

I wonder the same thing. Let Albert see how much he really is worth.

[The Bad Guy]

You would honestly think with the ranting and raving on this board that we were back to Week 5 of the 2012 NFL season, without a lead, and cranking up the Save our Chiefs movement again.

Before most of you take the bridge, what is the harm in waiting to see what the finished product looks like? I mean, what is there to lose besides a tantrum on a message board?

I absolutely think if the Chiefs take Luke Joeckel 1 overall that he should be by the end of year 2 in the top 5 at his position. That's a reasonable expectation.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

What's unreasonable about that is that it ignores the weakness of top of the draft, the demands of the current LT, and the realities of the salary cap and the NFL in general.

The importance of the LT has been negated by mobile QB's and fast release of pocket passers.

True.

This year is very weak in blue chip players.

Definitely true. Of all positions.

This is all trumped by the fact that rookie salaries have been fisted and it's now a mild blip if you draft a bust at 1 or 2 or 3.

This makes draft picks more valuable than ever, even in a weak class...