NFL Draft Rumors 2013: Chiefs, Dolphins Resume Albert Talks
Nov.25, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland prior to a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The clock is ticking on the start of the 2013 NFL Draft and according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com, the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins have resumed talks on a trade that would send LT Branden Albert to South Beach.
"ESPN’s Ed Werder reported on SportsCenter Wednesday that the Dolphins have “resumed dialogue” with the Chiefs regarding Branden Albert.ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Monday the sides had had “little or no communication” in “almost two weeks,” but urgency is setting in for desperate Dolphins contract-year GM Jeff Ireland. Werder confirms Kansas City wants one of Miami’s two second-round picks (Nos. 42, 54). Werder reported Albert is targeting a deal worth $36 million over four seasons, which is more than what the Rams gave Jake Long and Texans paid Duane Brown. “He wants to be paid like an elite tackle,” Werder stated. Ireland has enough job insecurity to cave."
There are so many rumors and contradictory reports floating about that it has been hard to get a handle on what exactly his going on here.
This is what I gather:
1. The Chiefs and Dolphins want to work out a trade for Albert.
2. The Chiefs gave Miami permission to talk to Albert’s agent but not to Albert. Meaning Albert could not go to the Dolphins’ facility for a physical.
3. The Chiefs had not heard from the Dolphins in a few days regarding Albert. Presumably because either Albert was asking too much or the Chiefs were asking too much in trade compensation. There were reports of both.
4. Now the two sides are talking again. This could indicate that the Dolphins are willing to pay Albert and all that remains is haggling with the Chiefs on the final details of the trade compensation. Miami is likely pushing to send only it’s late second-round pick while Chiefs GM John Dorsey is almost certainly wants Miami’s early second-rounder.
There isn’t much time for either side to continue to play chicken. While the two teams might not reveal the trade until during the draft to keep the other teams guessing, they would both like to have an agreement in place aead of time so they can get a clearer picture of their draft strategy.
I am not sure if the news will break before Thursday night or not but I wouldn’t be surprised if the deal gets done today. KC and Miami may wait until both have picked in the first round before they announce the trade, if not just to keep the rest of the NFL guessing about their intentions.