The Jacksonville Jaguars traded for a guy with two Pro Bowl appearances hoping he could improve their offensive line.
Today, he retired.
Jaguars OL Branden Albert announced his retirement from the National Football League.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 31, 2017
Branden Albert is calling it a career after nine seasons. He made the Pro Bowl in 2013 with the Chiefs and 2015 with the Dolphins.
On March 9, the Dolphins officially sent Albert to the Jaguars in exchange for a 7th round pick in ’18. The Dolphins also received Julius Thomas in a separate but related deal.
If players pass physicals and no one reneges:
MIAMI sends 2017 7th to JAX for Julius Thomas.
JAX send 2018 7th to MIAMI for Branden Albert.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 21, 2017
Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell had high praise for Albert after the trade.
Branden Albert is a Pro Bowl player who instantly impacts our team. Branden has played 120 games over the last nine seasons and has a lot of great football ahead of him.
His consistency, leadership and on-field performance were all key factors in our desire to acquire Branden from the Dolphins. We look forward to him getting started in Jacksonville.
The whole “lot of great football ahead of him” didn’t turn out so well. The Jaguars brought him in because he was a good run blocker. Jags Head Coach Doug Marrone saw him competing for a starting job.
Brandon is an experienced left tackle. He will compete for the starting role and has proven over his 120-game career that he has the mental and physical tools to excel in this league.
You have to wonder what moved Albert to retire. The guy has been a consistent player for nine seasons and now makes the Dolphins look good for moving him. Maybe the latest CTE reports scared him. Or maybe it was seeing his QB Blake Bortles throw five interceptions during training camp.
me: training camp stats are irrelevant
also me: blake bortles threw five interceptions pic.twitter.com/1Ervng1PjI
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) July 30, 2017
Enjoy your retirement, Albert. Don’t leak any of Bortles playing secrets, I know it’s tempting.
