With a physical needing to happen before a trade involving Chiefs tackle Branden Albert can be completed and the Chiefs hoping for a second-round pick in return for the player, the next couple of days loom large for getting a deal done.
The Dolphins have been the team linked most closely to Albert, but reports over the weekend indicated that they were balking at meeting Albert’s contract demands. Chris Mortensen concurs with those reports and adds that there has been little to no communication between the Chiefs and Dolphins about a deal in the last two weeks.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network is hearing different things, however. Rapoport reports that the Dolphins are willing to meet Albert’s asking price for a contract extension. Albert is reportedly seeking something similar to what Duane Brown got from the Texans last year, which would mean something in the neighborhood of $53.4 million over six years. According to Rapoport, the bigger hang-up is the Dolphins’ desire to surrender the 54th overall pick of the draft in the deal rather than the 42nd pick.
The Dolphins could still opt to trade up in the first round for a shot at one of the draft’s best left tackles while the Chiefs might not have another trading partner lined up, two factors that could help determine who, if anyone, blinks first if draft pick compensation is the issue. Either way, it won’t be long before we find out where Albert will be spending at least the 2013 season.