The Dolphins are discussing a trade that would send left tackle Branden Albert to the Jaguars in exchange for tight end Julius Thomas, according to Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel. Albert was first linked to Jacksonville last week by Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, who speculated Thomas could be a target for the Dolphins.
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Miami, of course, was close to releasing Albert last week, but trade talks materialized before the Fins officially made the move. The Jaguars, who recently declined their option bonus on left tackle Kelvin Beachum, were immediately viewed as the “primary destination” for Albert. While Albert and/or Thomas may need to restructure their contracts in order to finalize a deal, “all parties are willing participants” in negotiations, per Kelly.
“Why ruffle feathers when you don’t have to?” Albert said when asked about the trade. “It’s the business of the game. I honestly believe where I’m going to go is the right fit. It is going to be a surprise when [the terms] comes out.”
Albert, 32, has two years left on his current deal, with cap charges north of $10MM in each season. Miami would incur $3.4MM in dead money by dealing Albert to Jacksonville. Albert will visit the Jaguars today, and they could sweeten his deal in order to facilitate a trade, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The 28-year-old Thomas, meanwhile, is signed through 2019, and $3MM of his $7MM 2017 base salary has already become guaranteed, though he might accept a small pay cut, per Rapoport (Twitter link). Regardless, his salary would become the responsibility of the Dolphins in a trade, while the Jaguars would incur $3.6MM in dead money.
While Albert would take over the left tackle spot in Jacksonville, Thomas would also represent a solid fit for Miami. Incumbent Dolphins tight ends Jordan Cameron and Dion Sims are each pending free agents, and while Miami has interest in re-signing Sims, the club could certainly use a more established option. While Thomas has struggled during his time with the Jags, he did catch 24 touchdowns over two seasons in Denver while current Dolphins head coach Adam Gase served as offensive coordinator.
This better go through
Good for Thomas. He might be able to return to the playoffs with a wildcard team in Miami. That’s their ceiling until Brady retires.
This is a win win for both teams. Miami upgrades the TE position and the Jags improve the OL and will hopefully be able to take some of the pressure of Bortles
2 years in a row now the Dolphins don’t get robbed or come up on the wrong side of a trade. Seems like they finally got football minds running the show.
They got robbed on the Jamar Taylor trade with CLE this is still an incompetent FO
Cleveland robbing some one in a trade? That is yet to be seen. Every trade, draft pick, free agent signing, or extension that Cleveland does is terrible.
Well you clearly don’t pay attention. They robbed philly in the Wentz trade and Jamar Taylor was acquired for peanuts. They have a new FO and coach who know what they are doing take your ignorance somewhere else
Lol robbed philly? They got a franchise QB, I’d say they’re all set
You are hilarious! I love your sarcasm. If you aren’t being sarcastic, I love how you truly believe this! So funny…
Every draft pick? So Joe Thomas and Alex Mack are both terrible? Tashaun Gipson was pretty good for them too. Heck, even Joe Haden was good for a couple of years. Plus, Cleveland lost a bunch of good players last offseason to free agency. Putting their complete lack of desire to resign those players aside, other teams wanted those guys so they must’ve been doing something right.
Robbed in the Taylor trade lol that’s cute.
Taylor was bad, very bad in Miami. Is that a front office problem or a coaching problem? I say it probably falls on Philbin.
Totally agree with Winz, I also like this trade so hopefully Miami concentrates on defense in the draft.
Julius Thomas was a lot of fun to watch in Denver. I hope he stays healthy with the Dolphins.