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The Kansas City Chiefs have been reportedly trying to trade LT Branden Albert for most of the offseason and it appears they may have a trading partner in the Miami Dolphins.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Dolphins are indeed interested in acquiring Albert from KC:
As I said on TA: I do hear #Dolphins are interested in #Chiefs OT Branden Albert. Big question: Will #Chiefs take No. 54, 2nd 2nd rounder?
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 17, 2013
Rapoport has been pretty tuned in on what is going on with the Chiefs this offseason so I see this report as being pretty credible.
The Dolphins and the Chiefs have been linked for most of the offseason. Miami lost former first overall pick, Jake Long, in free agency and has been looking to fill a need at tackle.
The Chiefs used the franchise tag on Albert earlier this offseason but have reportedly been hoping to deal him for a second round pick in this year’s NFL draft. Early reports indicated that KC was also looking for a pick in the 2014 draft. Recently, however, there have been rumors that the Chiefs have softened their demands a bit.
This trade would make sense for both teams. The Chiefs are clearly interested in recouping the second-round draft pick they traded to the San Francisco 49ers for QB Alex Smith. By dealing Albert, the Chiefs would clear over $9 million in cap space and would be free to select one of the top tackle prospects in this year’s draft class.
For Miami, they’d be able to snag Albert, who has been a proven starter at LT since being drafted by KC. For the trade to make sense for the Dolphins, however, Albert would need to agree to sign a long-term contract with his new team. It is unlikely that the Dolphins would trade for Albert without a guarantee that they could lock him up long-term. The Dolphins own two second-round picks in this year’s draft so the team wouldn’t be losing much by dealing one of them for Albert.
The Chiefs probably would like to get the deal done before the first round of the draft begin next week.
What do you think, Addicts? Should the Chiefs trade Branden Albert for the 54th pick in this year’s draft? Or should they try to get more?