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Branden Albert will come at a heavy cost for the Miami Dolphins financially, and the Dolphins are reportedly prepared to shell out $9 million per season to Albert- that’s more than what they would have paid Jake Long. Although Albert doesn’t deserve that kind of money, it seems like Ireland and the Dolphins aren’t too concerned about overpaying for an upgrade at tackle. However, the Dolphins don’t want to give up too much in the form of draft assets for Albert, on top of what they would be paying Albert.

According to the well-connected Armando Salguerro of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins chances of landing Branden Albert from the Kansas City Chiefs is at “60-40″, so it is likely that both sides come to an agreement in the end. Whether the Chiefs are willing to deal Albert straight-up for a third-rounder will be interesting, but it is telling that the Chiefs are reportedly comfortable with slotting in the newly drafted Eric Fisher at right tackle if need be. It is also telling that the Dolphins decided to trade up for a non-OT. Does this mean the Dolphins are willing to add in another piece to the third-rounder if need be?

After adding Dion Jordan, something tells me that Jared Odrick could be involved in this deal. He would fit the Chiefs defense much better, as he is no longer a fit with the Dolphins 4-3 after switching from the 3-4. Odrick isn’t fast or a good enough pass rusher to fit the 4-3, but he could end up being a solid DE in the 3-4. Salguerro speculated earlier this offseason that Odrick could be on the trade block, so I think we should watch for Odrick’s name in these talks closely.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter @SorianoJoe.

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However, Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post (soon-to-be of the Boston Globe) reports that the Dolphins think Albert isn’t worth a second-round pick. This isn’t just the opinion of the source, but rather news from the source stating the Dolphins agree with NFL analyst Ross Tucker that Branden Albert isn’t worth the second-round price tag from the Chiefs.

If the Chiefs and Dolphins can agree on shipping a third-rounder to Kansas City, then the deal would most likely go through. The Chiefs will likely get an additional pick on top of that third-rounder if it comes to that, because they are going to sap out everything they can get for Albert. The Chiefs have more leverage at this moment in time, while Albert holds almost all the leverage on his end of the table.

Branden Albert will likely be the next starting left tackle for the Miami Dolphins, but I really think the Dolphins need to watch out. Albert is a good player, but he wants to get paid like an elite tackle. In my opinion, Albert is not worth that kind of money and should be getting what the New York Giants gave Will Beatty.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter @SorianoJoe.

1. Impending free agent cornerback Aqib Talib is one of the New England Patriots three biggest priorities this offseason, but the thing is the Patriots will most likely have to de-prioritize one of Talib, Wes Welker, or Sebastian Vollmer. Recently ranked the fourth-best impending free agent by Rotoworld’s Evan Silva, poll voters on this site believe Talib is narrowly the team’s offseason priority over star slot receiver Wes Welker.

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Talib is speculated to command $8-10 million per season (CSNNE), and it would cost about $10.7 million to franchise him. Even though he changed his act while with the New England Patriots this past season, Talib’s checkered past and work ethic questions that cropped up this year (see link above) have the Patriots reluctant to give Talib a multi-year deal.

Here is what defensive leader Jerod Mayo said to The Boston Herald about Aqib Talib, “He’s a great player, and I like to say he’s a football guy. He enjoys going out there each and every day and I hope we have him back. But that’s a question you have to ask coach (Bill) Belichick. That’s one of those personnel decisions that I don’t make.”

Mayo also praised impending free agent safety Ed Reed, who is ranked in Silva’s top 40 impending free agents.

2. Tony Santorsa of NE Patriots Draft examines the options in the impending free agency of Wes Welker, and he agrees with Mike Reiss’s preferred two-year, $16 million deal that he gave in a mailbag response on ESPN Boston. Tavon Austin is my preferred “replacement” for Welker in the first round of the draft if no deal can be made, and Santorsa names Austin and another interesting name in Duke’s steady Conner Vernon.

3. Rob Gronkowski was named the sixth-most like player in a poll conducted by Nielsen (Rant Sports), and two Green Bay Packers made the top five in Aaron Rodgers and the now-retired Donald Driver. You know who else made that list? Peyton Manning. It’s rare to see a Patriots player well-liked by all fans, but that’s exactly what Gronk is. Gotta love Gronk. The piece notes that Tom Brady did not make the list, but that’s entirely obvious. Really no non-Patriots fan likes Brady, and that’s the way it should be, right?

4. New England Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard won the team’s “Hippie Award” for Rookie of the Year. In fact, if you break down the numbers (if you have a PFF subscription), you’ll see that Dennard was significantly better than Talib in 2012. Dennard is going to be one of the game’s best ten cornerbacks (or 15, that’s still really good) with his terrific man coverage skills, physicality at the line of scrimmage, and above-average impact in run defense. As for Chandler Jones, he probably would have won the award if he was healthy for the entire season.

5. The NFL Network’s top draft scout Daniel Jeremiah thinks the Kansas City Chiefs won’t trade the No. 1 pick in the draft because they won’t be able to find a trade partner. I agree, and it sounds like the Chiefs will be taking either Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel (best available) or Geno Smith (need). It all depends on what happens to Branden Albert (and maybe even Alex Smith) before the draft, and I’m surprised more people aren’t making the Miami Dolphins-Atlanta Falcons connection over Jake Long and Matt Ryan. If I were the Chiefs organization, I would take Geno or a quarterback first. But then again, Ryan was more of a sure prospect than the quarterbacks in this draft class are.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter @SorianoJoe.