Kansas City Chiefs Put Branden Albert on trade market?

Nov 1, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tackle Branden Albert (76) walks to the locker room after the San Diego Chargers beat the Chiefs 31-13 at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

I personally had the Kansas City Chiefs drafting Luke Joeckel with the #1 overall pick in April’s draft. When they put the franchise tag on Branden Albert that seemed like a conclusion to the Joeckel to Kansas City story line.

But that might still be their goal with that #1 pick.

And now with Jake Long off the market, after signing with St. Louis Rams, the Chiefs are entertaining trade offers for their ‘franchise’ tackle Branden Albert?

According to Peter King of Sports Illustrated, the Chiefs are willing to listen to offers for Albert.

The problem is that Albert has had a history of back problems, and he is only under contract for 1 year, a franchise tag year, which means he is an expensive band-aid for one season.

If the Chiefs aren’t able to move Albert, and they only view players like Geno Smith, Luke Joeckel and tackle Eric Fisher worthy of the first pick, it could open the door for them to trade down in the draft and try to collect an extra draft pick. Potentially by a team in the Top 10 who is in need of a quarterback and sees Geno Smith as the answer.

The Cardinals have the #7 pick, the Bills have the #8 pick, and both need quarterbacks. The Bills could look to try and move ahead of Arizona to draft Geno Smith. Just a thought.