10 players the Dolphins must address this off-season

Nov 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Miami Dolphins tackle Branden Albert (71) against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Branden Albert

$10.15 million against the cap

Albert has battled injuries since his arrival in Miami. Last year he ended the season on IR and this year began the season injured. He returned in week one but quickly was sidelined with a hamstring injury. When healthy is a very good left tackle but Albert still has hiccups in his protection. A full off-season and an ability to stay healthy will help that but his salary cap is a little too high vs. the risk of him staying healthy.

The Dolphins don’t have a lot of options here. If they released him they would eat over $5 million while saving about $5 million making it a wash but the Dolphins would be hard pressed to replace him. Add to that the line issues the team currently has and Miami has only one real option. Restructuring his contract.

Albert should be a player that Miami targets for a new re-worked deal and he should be open to one. A new contract will lessen his cap hit while putting more real money into his pocket. Miami would be smart to address this with Albert’s agents early into the off-season allowing themselves some cap relief and less risk.

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