The Miami Dolphins may still send Branden Albert to Jacksonville, but are no longer expected to get Julius Thomas in return.
Over the weekend, the NFL was gifted with some interesting trade news. Trades aren’t very common in the NFL, but it looks like we might see one soon.
There’s been speculation the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars would swap left tackle Branden Albert (of Miami) and tight end Julius Thomas. As reported by Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, that’s no longer the case.
Now, there seems to be a deal in place that would send Albert to Jacksonville for a late round pick in 2018. Nothing is official yet, but according to Pro Football Talk, “Albert continues to talk to the Jaguars about a way to sweeten his deal to get him to avoid the freedom of the open market”
Trying to reconcile this: #Jaguars believe trade will get done w/ OT Branden Albert, still stuff to resolve. Bigger issues at #Dolphins end
— Jason Cole (@JasonCole62) February 20, 2017
On the surface, this is a pretty null trade on both sides. With Thomas out of the deal, the trade definitely loses plenty of intrigue. While the Jags could certainly use some perimeter offensive line help, Albert’s best days are behind him. Formerly a Pro Bowler in Kansas City, injuries have deteriorated his prime. He’s certainly worth taking a shot on for a late round pick, but for Miami, dealing away a headache is not a bad idea either.
I think the Dolphins are pretty fed up with bumps and bruises on their offensive line over the last few seasons. Julius Thomas certainly would have sweetened the pot, providing the Fins with another offensive weapon. However, Thomas looks to be a one-hit wonder at this point following his time in Denver.
Related Story: Nick Fairley: 5 best fits in free agency
With Albert on the verge of moving from Miami, it should be interesting to see what they do with Laremy Tunsil. Their first round pick a year ago, he played a guard a season ago to get his feet wet. It might be his time at left tackle before he knows it.