The possibility of the Dolphins acquiring Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas for left tackle Branden Albert is now off the table, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. However, the Dolphins have agreed to send Albert to the Jags in a separate deal, per Salugero, which will net Miami a 2018 seventh-round pick, tweets Albert Breer of The MMQB.com.
In order for the trade to become official, the Jaguars will need Albert to agree to report, according to Salguero. Before that happens, the Jags and Albert’s representation will continue discussing his contract status. Albert himself will have dinner tonight with Jacksonville’s front office, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds the two sides will discuss his deal on Tuesday if all goes well.
The two sides have been in talks regarding Albert’s deal the past “several days,” writes Salguero, who adds that Jacksonville seems prepared to take on the rest of his pact and possibly even extend it. The 32-year-old Albert is currently signed through 2018 and set to count upward of $10MM against the salary cap in both seasons. By moving on from Albert, the Dolphins would free up $7.2MM in spending room.
As for Thomas, he could still end up with the Dolphins, tweets Rapoport, but their efforts to acquire him have hit a snag over his contract. Thomas reportedly would have had to take a pay cut had the Jaguars sent him to the Dolphins for Albert. The 28-year-old is signed through 2019 and comes with pricey base salaries ($7MM, $8.5MM and $9MM) and cap hits ($8.3MM, $9.8MM, $10.3MM). Nearly half of his salary for 2017 ($3MM) has already become guaranteed.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Interesting that it went from Thomas to a likely 7th round pick. It shows how much Thomas has dropped off since he left the Broncos
I would rather have TE Thomas than a 7th round pick.. Thomas would improve miami TE position since he play for coach Gase in Denver (24 TD in 2 season)
What if the Fins are thinking they can sign Thomas in FA and at a lower price than his current contract?
That’s not a twofer, but a fourfer, they unload Albert, get a draft pick (OK,only a 7th), get Thomas, AND at a lower salary than if they traded for him.
The jags just guaranteed part of his salary by not releasing him earlier. He’s not getting released now.
Miami is stupid
@bravesfan1998
How? Because they didn’t get Thomas? It is no big deal. The main reason why Thomas was good in Denver was because of Peyton Manning. Look how he’s doing with Jags.. Just because Miami has Adam Gase, doesn’t do much good either.
How? Albert was flat out getting waived earlier. At least getting something back for him is better than nothing.
eh. i suppose a 7th rd pick next year is better than nothing.. but not much. that player most likely wont even make the team out of camp. i know he comes with a large salary, but i would think a good LT (when healthy) would fetch alittle more.
ok so it appears they also acquired Thomas is a seperate trade for a 7th rd pick. so they did it with two seperate transactions.. basically swapping 7th rd picks.
correction: Jags received a 7th rd pick THIS year for Thomas. Miami receives 7th rd pick in 2018 for Albert.