Branden Albert

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Branden Albert has announced his retirement from the NFL after nine seasons.

Fantasy Impact

Albert, 32 announced his retirement from the NFL Monday just months after he was traded to Jacksonville from Miami. Although he was the favorite to open the 2017 season as the Jaguars' starting left tackle, rookie Cam Robinson will now have a legit shot to win the job in his absence.

To update an earlier report, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports the Miami Dolphins have not released offensive lineman Branden Albert.

Fantasy Impact

Garafolo reiterates Albert is, in fact, "done in Miami." However, the team believes they can receive value in return for him. Therefore, they will likely attempt to trade the left tackle in the offseason.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports the Miami Dolphins are releasing offensive lineman Branden Albert on Thursday.

Fantasy Impact

Albert, 32, was released by Miami on Thursday. The aging left tackle, whose played the last three seasons with the Dolphins, has had difficulty remaining healthy. He's missed 13 games since joining the club in 2014. As Garafolo reported, Laremy Tunsil, the 13th overall pick in last year's draft, will enter 2017 as the starter in Albert's absence. With Ryan Clady and Kelvin Beachum being informed on Wednesday night by their respective teams, the Jets, and Jaguars, that their 2017 options will not be picked up, Albert is the third left tackle on the wrong side of 30 who will be available on the open free agent market this offseason.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that Miami Dolphins’ Pro Bowl OT Branden Albert lost 25 pounds in the offseason. When healthy Albert is one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL, however, Albert hasn’t been the most durable player. Since coming into the league in 2008, Albert has only played all 16 games once, in 2011. Albert missed seven games in 2014 after tearing his ACL and MCL, an injury that Albert was still clearly struggling with last season. Albert has said that this 25-pound weight loss “has helped his knees and joints feel lighter”. The Dolphins are hoping that a lighter Albert will lead to a healthier Albert.

Fantasy Impact

If fully healthy, the Dolphins will have an offensive line that will start four former first-round draft picks (Albert, Mike Pouncey, Laremy Tunsil, and Ja’Wuan James). This could be big for the fantasy value of QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Arian Foster, RB Jay Ajayi, WR Jarvis Landry, and WR DeVante Parker.