Grading Chiefs GM John Dorsey in His First Off Season Part 1

Sep 19, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Branden Albert (76) during the third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Chiefs defeated the Eagles 26-16. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Branden Albert, LT

Status: Franchised Tagged

Grade: B

When the NFL at large realized the Chiefs would have the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2013 NFL draft, Chiefs fans everywhere had visions of franchise quarterbacks dancing in their heads. When it came down to picking between two left tackles, that pick became a lot less glamorous. But, with incumbent left tackle Branden Albert hitting free agency, it made sense.

When it was apparent Albert — or maybe it was his agent — over valued himself, and wanted a big time payday, John Dorsey had a very difficult decision to make. He could let Albert walk and get nothing out of him, pay him what he thought he was worth and set the Chiefs back financially or stick Albert with the franchise tag and provide the team with more time to figure out what to do.

The franchise tag turned out to be the best option all the way around. The Chiefs aren’t stuck with Albert — and a huge cap hit — moving forward and they have two viable options in Donald Stephenson and Eric Fisher to replace him. They got a final year of work out of him which allowed those two to mature and really learn the game. While the most the Chiefs can hope to gain from Albert now is a third-round compensatory pick in the 2015 draft, I would say they got their money’s worth.