The Miami Dolphins were all set to release veteran left tackle Branden Albert, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. However, a later report by the Miami Herald revealed that the team had yet to hand Albert his walking papers with other teams expressing some interest in trading for him.
Branden Albert almost got released by the Dolphins, but now there’s trade interest
Either way, Laremy Tunsil is the left tackle of the future in Miami.
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
Miami’s brass was all set to release him, communicating the decision to Albert and his agent. They pumped the brakes on that move when at least one other team called to gauge their interest on a trade.
The team is still expected to play the 2017 season without Albert. Their plan is to move second-year player Laremy Tunsil to left tackle.
Albert had two years remaining on a five-year, $47 million contract, and he was scheduled to make $8.8 million in 2017. Cutting Albert saves the Dolphins $7.2 million of salary cap space.
His current deal carries cap hits of $10.6 and $11.3 million this year and next, respectively. So it’s a substantial cost for a player who hasn’t played a full 16-game season since 2011.
He is a quality tackle, but injuries were an issue for Albert in Miami. He missed games due to injuries in each of his three seasons with the Dolphins. He’s also 32-years old, but can still be a quality left tackle when he is on the field.
Albert, a two-time Pro Bowler, was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 15th overall pick in the 2008 draft. He came to the Dolphins in 2014.
Tunsil mostly played left guard this season, but got some experience at left tackle filling in for Albert in four games while Albert was sidelined with an ankle injury, a wrist injury, and food poisoning.
Left tackle is Tunsil’s natural position, and he played well when called into action last season. Last season, Albert mentored Tunsil, who was projected to be the top tackle selected in the 2016 draft until a video of him presumably smoking marijuana through a gas mask surfaced just as the draft was about to begin. The Dolphins selected Tunsil with the 13th pick.
Albert enters the free agent market as one of several talented left tackles available. On Wednesday, the Jets declined to pick up Ryan Clady’s option, and Andrew Whitworth (Cincinnati Bengals) and Matt Kalil (Minnesota Vikings) are both free agents, as well.
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