Im sure they did originally. But now that Albert has gone public about being LT and wanting a trade, thafs changed. I think they have 2 options: 1. Draft a LT #1 and trade Albert. 2. Draft a different position #1 and keep Albert. Either scenario benefits the Dolphins if they just wait for KC to make the pick.
I don't think they franchised him with the intention of trading him, that being said I am sure as hell they don't intend to sign him to a long term contract after this year given his demands...
They could also end up trading out of #1. They could switch spots with Detroit. A lot of things can happen.
And there is no guarantee that the team they trade with picks a LT. Anyway you slice it, waiting is the better option for Miami.
I get you think that because of magic or something, but how did you think I proved that, when I explained the opposite?
No, there are ways to slice it where waiting does not help Miami. There is just way too much uncertainty at the top of the draft this year. KC could trade back with Detroit, or Arizona, who take an LT. If Arizona is the team that trades up, its very likely that the top-3 tackles are taken in the first five picks, and Albert isn't available. That is one scenario where waiting hurt Miami.
You're making very bold assumptions than acting as if they are more than that, namely that Miami views their situation as either trade for Albert or find a way to draft on of the top 3 LTs.
But my point is, if that happens, not giving Albert 9 mil and giving up pick #42 to do is good for Miami anyway.
If my assumption is wrong, then Miami inherently would be losing leverage in signing Eric Winston. Ultimately there are a lot of angles to look at this. And yes, a lot of the reasoning at this point is going to be based on big assumptions. This thread is based on a bold assumption that a contract has been agreed upon between Albert and Miami.
Just to make my point clear here. The argument posed was that Miami's leverage increases the longer it waits. My point is that this could very well backfire on Miami, assuming certain things happen. Will those things happen? Nobody knows. But I don't agree that no matter what unfolds, Miami's leverage will keep growing.
Wait...what? Winston has no leverage at all. No one has signed him. He has basically already laid his cards on the table said he really wants to play for the Dolphins. In regards to Winston, Miami has ALL the leverage. And the thread is not about bold assumptions, its about a report that may or may not be correct about Miami agreeing to Albert's salary.
And if Miami comes out of the draft without a LT, who is left? The talent pool will be non-existent. Simple supply and demand. Eric Winston is then basically the only option that you could stomach. Miami can't say "we can just draft a tackle for the same price as you."
Let's also not forget, that trading for Albert before the first round, takes away some leverage we may have with other teams wanting to trade up or back.
Absolutely. At this point I believe our interest in Albert to be just as much leveraging other teams in front of us, as it is genuine interest.
Exactly my thinking. We could argue trading our 2nd to Oakland is better than spending big on Albert...we are offering our 3rd
Little side tracked from your post, but I think Winston to us is only an emergency backup plan. He's not an LT. Martin isn't likely going to be an LT anytime soon either. If all else fails, we cant get an LT early enough, or good enough to start right away, then I think the phins roll the dice with Martin at LT (and hope Tannehill doesn't get killed in the process), then sign Winston to play LT while the draft pick ripens. I still think Ireland really wants to land Albert. If the price is right. Either that, or he will have us trading up to try and take a tackle early. Either way we likely loose a second round pick to a LT this year. Whether its for Albert, or to move up and draft one.
Id much rather give Oakland pick 42 to draft Fisher or Joeckel instead of trading for Albert. Philly might do it a 4. Or Cleveland at 6, if one of them is there at that point.
Yes, thats exactly what I'm saying. The argument posed was that no matter what, Miami's leverage can only increase. I'm simply providing examples of where it cannot.
FTR, I know Winston isn't an LT. Anytime I have brought up Winston its with the knowledge he would be RT and Martin the LT.
See I don't understand that. You want to give up 2 high picks (and it may take 3 actually) to get 1 player. When we can stay put at 12, draft an impact guy and still get a Top 10 LT. The math doesn't compute.
This is what im saying. Why would people rather do that when we KNOW we will get a top LT in his prime for quite a few more years probably. Why is it people are against it when they wanted to give Long, who is no longer as good as Albert, 9 mil a year. But wouldn't give Albert the same.
$$$$$$$. Trading for Albert will cost the team more money. I'm sure Stephen Ross would be a lot happier with his GM if he could fill the holes while saving him $5-7M this year.
I think the Dolphins have the leverage here. KC wants to dump itself of Albert's salary, or feels like having him would be redundant. They obviously don't want to cut him, or release him in future years for nothing. If they don't want to cave to Miami's demands, what's to keep the Dolphins from trading up to get any of the other tackles? Sure, it may cost more draft picks, but on a team that looks a little cap-strapped in the upcoming years, it may be the better option to move up and get a young, promising, tackle on a rookie salary. I'm with PSG on this one, Ireland can probably wait til Jacksonville is on the clock before he makes any kind of move of desperation.
WADR, I think that is how you perceive the argument. I think most everyone else understood that waiting meant Miami's leverage increases AS LONG AS KC picked a LT. I don't think anyone thought Miami's leverage increased if KC took Star for example.
Im saying if the price is the same (#42) I'd rather Joeckel or Fisher over Albert. Of course if the price to move up is more, that changes the thought process.
They'll save the money by drafting an impact player that is under the rookie scale for a few years. So that's not it.
Trading 42 for Albert and drafting someone at 12 is a lot more expensive than using 42 to trade up and draft a LT.
How could the price be the same? You either spend two draft picks on one player or two players. That's not the same and never will be.
Exactly. But it also helps Miami a bit if we wait and KC takes a different position. It pushes the LTs closer to us at 12.
Albert would be 42 or 54. A move up to the top 3 or 4 would probably be (and I'm just guessing), the 42 and maybe another 4th or 5th round draft pick.
But we save money by not paying Albert, who is 29 and has back issues. We get a younger, cheaper, healthier and potentially better LT. Im not against trading for Albert as long as the price is right. Offer one of our 3rds. Take it or leave in KC.
It helps, but that isn't leverage. It would be if we picked at 4. But if our target is really on of the big 3 LTs at 12, then KC not picking one, barely helps us. I mean, think about it, if any 3 other team before us wants of those guys, we're screwed, one less team doesn't really chnage our odds significantly. Even if some of those teams already have LTs that are good. I mean look at KC. They have a Top 10 guy already and are willing to draft an LT.
But we could be getting 2 impact players for a little more than Albert, by drafting a stud at 12 along with trading our 2 for Albert.
The 12th pick will cost around $2M for 2013. The 6th pick likely $3M for 2013. The 42nd pick about $900k. Albert around $9M. So, lets say you draft someone at 12, then trade 42 for Albert. $2M + $9M = $11M. Now, lets say you trade up from 12 to 6, using the 42nd pick. $3M + $0M = $3M. Its costing a lot more to trade for Albert, than it is trading up from 12. And to be clear, I'm not saying that they necessarily aren't willing to spend the money here, but it is very possible, and even likely IMO that they aren't taking $8M lightly.
There's a 3rd option, the one I actually think is most likely, tbh: 3. KC can't trade Albert by their first pick. They draft Eric Fisher. Fisher is willing to play RT; he and Albert would be the Tackles this year. (Jamaal Charles fantasy alert.) But they would essentially be drafting their franchise LT because Fisher would just move over there once Albert is a FA next year. OR: this also leaves them the option of trading Albert later because they have his replacement already - Fisher's flexibility and willingness is the key here, imo. Drafting Fisher makes a ton of sense if KC gets stuck at 1. This also works out for us. This means Joeckel falls to teams that aren't as bullish on taking a Tackle as KC is; JAX and OAK would be very good trade partners, looking to move down and not as desperate for a Tackle. OR: trading up doesn't work out, so we go back to KC who is still interested in moving Albert because Fisher can and would play either side.
