BREAKING: Ian Rapoport reports Julius Thomas trade is a done deal

Smokescreens after smokescreens.  Nobody knows what’s going on with the Branden Albert-Julius Thomas deal.  Until now.

Ian Rapoport reported – according to his sources – late Monday afternoon that it’s officially a done deal.

The Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars have been going back and forth since late last week for a deal that was sure to contain Albert.  The piece Miami was getting in return was the question.

More from Phin Phanatic

• 4 offensive tackles Miami Dolphins could draft at 51
• Miami Dolphins don’t need CB help but these 5 could be available at 51
• 4 players that could replace Wilkins if Miami Dolphins don’t re-sign him
• Miami Dolphins have a starting point with Wilkins after Simmons deal
• The Miami Dolphins should not take a running back in the draft

First off, Albert was reportedly released.  Soon after news broke that he wasn’t released after all the news broke that he was being getting shipped just north to Jacksonville.  Dolphins fans were intrigued with what was coming back to Miami in return.

Then reports over the weekend came out that Thomas was the other half of the deal.  It seemed like an obvious trade for Miami as Thomas would be reunited with head coach Adam Gase for the first time in two years.  Thomas would fill a void that could be left if Miami moves on from both Dion Sims and Jordan Cameron.

Fast forward to Monday morning and a deal had fallen through due to Thomas not being able to agree on a deal with the Dolphins organization.  Instead Albert was getting traded to Jacksonville for a 6th or 7th round pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Now here we are.  The Albert-Thomas trade is back on and according to Rapoports’ sources it’s a done deal.  Well, technically it’ll be a done deal on March 9th when the new league year begins.

UPDATED (2/20, 5:58pm ET): The trade for Thomas doesn’t include Albert.  There will be two separate trades between the Dolphins and Jaguars in which Albert will be traded to for a draft pick and Thomas will be traded for a draft pick as well.

The logistics behind two separate trades is unknown (from what I can find) but there must be something more to it than we know.