It’s been taking a while, but it looks like the deal that will send Branden Albert via trade from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Miami Dolphins for a second round draft pick is well on its way to being completed, with the proximity of the actual 2013 NFL Draft speeding things up.

Albert, 28, has been with Chiefs since 2008, and although he signed a franchise tender worth $9.8 million, he wants a long-term commitment from the team, not to mention remaining in his position of left tackle. With the Chiefs poised to pick Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M with the number one pick in the draft and put him in left tackle, that leaves both sides at an uncomfortable situation.

I want that long-term commitment, but as you know in football, you don’t have too much control of the situation. I want to play for the Chiefs, but I want that commitment long term.

The Chiefs granted the Dolphins permission to talk with Albert last week and start working on a contract for him if the trade actually comes through. Now, the teams are talking to each other, with the Dolphins likely to give up one of their two first round picks for a player who has missed at least one game each season in four out of his five years in the league.

So far, Albert is playing hardball with the Chiefs, skipping their voluntary offseason program, hoping to get their attention. Despite being a well respected player in his position and of high value to the team, the feeling in KC is that the prospect of Joeckel or someone else is greater than the potential Albert brings to the table, and it’ll be better simply finding a different solution to their right tackle problems, while earning another high draft pick in the process.

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