Branden Albert Ends Holdout, Reports to Jaguars Mini Camp

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Branden Albert's hold out has ended. Albert reported to Jaguars Mandatory Mini Camp on Monday.

By Jordan de Lugo

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Early this offseason the Jaguars sent a 2018 7th round pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the services of left tackle Branden Albert. All seemed well as Albert visited with the team prior to the trade going down and seemed genuinely excited to be in Jacksonville during his introductory press conference. 

Then Albert decided not to communicate with the Jaguars organization for two months. During OTAs Albert was absent, but apparently was in communication with the Jaguars at times. It seems likely that Albert saw what other similarly aged left tackles were getting paid around the league and decided he'd like a little more money. He may have gotten his wish too, until the Jaguars drafted left tackle Cam Robinson in the second round. That pretty much took away any leverage that Albert had (or believed he had) and set the table for Albert's return to the team.

Now the mandatory part of the offseason program is set to begin and Albert has ended his holdout. Of course this is the part of the offseason that players can get fined for missing - a fact not lost on the 32 year old veteran.

Albert projects to be the Jaguars starting left tackle from day one. He's made the Pro Bowl as recently as 2015 and at times has been one of the better left tackles in football. He seems like the type that may have bust potential, but the Jaguars are expecting to win in 2017, and if Albert isn't 100% all in then he could get replaced quickly by rookie Cam Robinson who has earned rave reviews for his work ethic since joining the Jaguars.

The offensive line for the Jaguars is still in flux, but this is one step toward figuring out the starting five.

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