Report: Chiefs Working On Long-Term Deal With LT Branden Albert
Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
The Branden Albert saga continues in Kansas City.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the trade talks involving Branden Albert and the Miami Dolphins (and ever other team, for thatmatter) are dead. The Chiefs will now try to hammer out a long-term deal with Albert.
From Total Access: I'm told parties view Branden Albert deal as "dead." Chiefs will now turn their attention to a long-term deal for Albert.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 1, 2013
The Chiefs tried to trade Albert during the NFL draft but were unable to get enough in return for the former first-round pick.
Singing Albert to a long-term deal now makes sense for the Chiefs. Currently, Albert is on a $9 million franchise tag contract. That really puts the Chiefs up against the salary cap. By working out a long-term deal, the Chiefs might be able to spread Albert’s compensation over a number of years, thus freeing up cap room.
This doesn’t mean the Chiefs might not still trade Albert later. If Kansas City really wants to move Eric Fisher to left tackle next season, the team could re-sign Albert, play him at LT this season and then deal him next offseason. It is a bit of a roll of the dice but if Albert players really well in 2013, the Chiefs could end up getting what they are looking for in a trade.
The other option is that the Chiefs find a way to manage their cap and pay both Albert and Eric Fisher. Head coach Andy Reid has said he sees both tackle positions as being equal so perhaps the Chiefs will have no problem leaving Fisher at RT for the long-term.
What do you think, Addicts? Will the Chiefs extend Albert’s contract? If they do, will he play LT and for how long?