Dolphins finally bag OT Albert at $10M per season

Branden Albert will be taking his talents to South Beach. (USATSI)

More NFL offseason: Mock Drafts | Prospect Rankings | Pro Days | Top free agents

When Chiefs offensive lineman Branden Albert officially becomes a free agent at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, don't look for him to be on the market for long. Albert has a deal in place with the Miami Dolphins that will pay him $10 million per season, CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora has reported.

The Dolphins tried to trade for Albert last April, but talks fell apart and the Chiefs offensive lineman ended up staying in Kansas City, where he's been for his entire six-year career. The 29-year-old was the 15th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft and has been with the Chiefs since then.

Albert will be an instant upgrade for a Dolphins offensive line that surrendered a franchise-record 58 sacks in 2013. That was the highest number in the NFL by far, as no other team in the league gave up more than 50 sacks last season.

Look for Albert to be No. 1 on the Dolphins depth chart at left tackle, a position that was influx in 2013 after Jake Long left Miami in free agency to sign with the Rams. Jonathan Martin started the season at left tackle, but the job eventually went to Bryant McKinnie, who was added in an October trade with the Ravens.

The Dolphins were buyers during free agency last year and it looks like owner Stephen Ross has his checkbook ready to go again.

NFL Hot News

Jets release WR Santonio Holmes after four years in New York



The New York Jets announced Monday that they will release Santonio Holmes saving the team more than eight million on the 2014 salary cap. The 30 year old receiver has played only one full season for the Jets and has seen his numbers steadily decline since joining the team.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin-top:0in;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-para-margin-left:0in;line-height:107%;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}



Considering how much the Jets were paying for Holmes and how little production they were getting, this move surprises no one. Between injuries and inconsistent quarterback play, Holmes never lived up to the five year 45 million dollar contract he signed after being traded by the Steelers. His best season with the team was 2010 when he caught 52 balls for 746 yards.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin-top:0in;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-para-margin-left:0in;line-height:107%;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}With the many wide receiver vacancies in the NFL, Holmes will likely find a home for a one or two year deal in 2014, assuming he is willing to play for a much less money.Considering the lack of talent the Jets have at receiver, expect them to target one (or more) of the big names in the upcoming draft.