New Jaguars left tackle Branden Albert has not reported for team meetings today and is holding out for a new contract, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Albert, of course, was nearly released by the Dolphins earlier this year before Miami worked out a trade to send him to Jacksonville for minimal draft pick compensation. That deal became official when the new league year began in March, but was supposed to be contingent on Albert agreeing to report. Albert was reportedly discussing his contract with Jaguars brass in February, but it appears a solution was not fully hammered out.
Albert, 32, is under contract through the 2018 campaign. The Dolphins absorbed on his remaining prorated bonus money via the trade, but the Jaguars are scheduled to pay Albert $8.9MM in 2017 and $9.6MM in 2018. None of that money is guaranteed, but Jacksonville presumably haggled over the issue when negotiating the trade conditions with Albert.
Contractually, the Jaguars have little reason to give in to Albert’s demands, except for one glaring fact — they need Albert to be their starting left tackle. Albert wasn’t great in 2016 as he struggled with injuries throughout the season, but he’s the best option Jacksonville has on the blindside.
release Albert, 2nd round pick to GB for spriggs.
GB won’t do that they’re going to need Spriggs this year plus I think the view him as more valuable than that.
They stated he is a tackle, and GB has bulaga for 3 yrs and baktiari for 4 yrs. forest lamp will be available around packers 1st. jville 2nd rounder is high and could possibly net tj watt. I personally believe GB traded up last year to keep spriggs from lions/ vikings and to have a contingency in case baktiari wanted stupid money…
GB is not going to do that stupid trade and GB did not draft, let alone trade up, to keep him from anyone else. Give me a break!!