Dolphins signed OT Branden Albert, formerly of the Chiefs, to a five-year, $46 million contract.

The deal includes a whopping $25 million guaranteed. It's a huge price to pay for a player who's always been short of elite, but the Dolphins had essentially no choice considering the beating Ryan Tannehill took in 2013. Albert has missed seven games with injury over the past two seasons, but will stabilize the Dolphins' blindside when he's on the field. He turns 30 in November.

The Miami Herald's Armando Salguero is hearing free agent LT Branden Albert's deal with the Dolphins is "almost done."

Salguero says the contract isn't "100 percent done" -- it can't be until Tuesday at 4PM ET, anyway -- but Albert "will be a Dolphin." We're just awaiting contract details at this point. Albert is entering his age-30 season. Reports indicate he'll command north of $9 million annually as the market's top-paid tackle.

The Miami Herald seconds a Profootballtalk report that free agent LT Branden Albert is expected to become a Dolphin on Tuesday.

Teams had all weekend plus Monday to negotiate with agents. The Dolphins and Albert appear to have reached a contract agreement, and he can formally sign on the dotted line Tuesday at 1PM ET. The Fins have been trying to land Albert since before last April's NFL draft, but couldn't agree to trade compensation with the Chiefs. He spent all of 2013 wearing Kansas City's franchise tag.

The Miami Herald reports the Bucs, along with the Dolphins and Cardinals, are believed to have interest in free agent LT Branden Albert.

Miami and Arizona's interest has been well documented since last April's draft, but this is the first we've seen Tampa Bay connected to Albert. Bucs LT Donald Penn graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 19 left tackle last season and has two years left on a six-year, $41.7 million deal. His name has been floated as a potential cap casualty, a move that would clear over $7.4 million. Albert isn't going to come cheap, however. He's our No. 3 free-agent left tackle.

TFY Draft Insider's Tony Pauline reports the Cardinals will make a "big run" at free agent LT Branden Albert.

If they don't land Albert, Pauline reports the Cardinals will "look offensive tackle" in the first round of May's draft. Albert has several durability concerns and is entering his age-30 season, but Pauline isn't the first to indicate the Cards want a piece of him. Rumors of Arizona's interest have also appeared on the Cardinals' own team website, as well as FOX Sports 910 Phoenix.

Chiefs GM John Dorsey insists the team has yet to make a decision about free agent LT Branden Albert, and that the sides remain in talks.

Dorsey adamantly refuted reports that the Chiefs have already decided to let Albert walk. It would be surprising if Dorsey didn't refute the reports, so his comments should be taken with a grain of salt. With Eric Fisher and Donald Stephenson ready to go at tackle, it would be very surprising if the Chiefs made a real effort to retain Albert.

610 Sports Radio in Kansas City reports the Chiefs plan to let LT Branden Albert walk in free agency and have no intentions of re-signing him.

Take this with a grain of salt, as Danny Parkins, a host of one of the radio shows, has no history of breaking news and doesn't have a following among NFL media outside of Kansas City. However, signs have pointed to this for a while. The Chiefs took Eric Fisher with the No. 1 overall pick last April and had designs of trading Albert before those deals never came to fruition. Fisher should slide over to left tackle in 2014. Donald Stephenson, who started eight games in 2013, will get the first crack at the right tackle job. Albert is our No. 3 free-agent tackle.

The Palm Beach Post says not to be surprised if the Dolphins "go hard" after free agent LT Branden Albert.

FOX Sports 910 Phoenix hints LT Branden Albert will be the Cardinals' top target in free agency.

This isn't the first time we've seen the Albert-Arizona connection; the Cardinals' official website suggested earlier in the month that the team could make a run at Albert. Kansas City and Arizona reportedly discussed a trade involving Albert at last year's draft. The Cardinals are up against the salary cap, but teams can work around that. Look for Albert to target a deal similar to what the Rams gave Jake Long last offseason -- four years and $34 million with $16 million guaranteed.

The Cardinals' website suggests the team could make a run at free agent LT Branden Albert.

They can't afford to keep starting Bradley Sowell. Albert, Eugene Monroe, Jordan Gross, Jared Veldheer, and Anthony Collins are the top left tackles eligible for free agency. 29-year-old Albert is going to command a hefty contract, likely in the range of St. Louis' four-year, $34 million commitment to Jake Long.

ESPN does not expect the Chiefs to re-sign unrestricted free agent LT Branden Albert.

Albert played under a one-year, $9.828 million franchise tender this year and graded out 18th among left tackles in Pro Football Focus' grades. The Chiefs will likely roll with 2013 No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher on Alex Smith's blind side and Donald Stephenson at right tackle going forward. Despite Albert's mediocre play this season, he's going to get paid in a big way.

Chiefs LT Branden Albert (knee) has been practicing in full for the past two weeks.

Chiefs LT Branden Albert (knee) is not expected to play Sunday against the Colts.

Chiefs LT Branden Albert (knee) has been ruled out for Week 15.

Albert still hasn't been cleared to practice after leaving Week 13 with a knee injury. He'll continue to be replaced by Donald Stephenson on Alex Smith's blind side, with Eric Fisher staying at right tackle.

Chiefs LT Branden Albert (knee) is not practicing this week.

A source tells ProFootballTalk.com that the "current thinking" is that LT Branden Albert dodged a serious injury in Sunday's Week 13 loss to the Broncos.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid confirmed LT Branden Albert (shoulder) will be available for Thursday night's Week 3 game at Philly.

Albert escaped Sunday's win with an AC sprain of the shoulder, which is a day to day injury. He did return to the game. Through two weeks, Chiefs QB Alex Smith has taken five sacks but has a 4:0 TD-to-INT ratio and 94.7 QB rating.

Branden Albert left Sunday's Week 2 game against the Cowboys with a shoulder injury, but later returned.

Albert was having trouble moving his left shoulder and then went into the locker room. Backup Donald Stephenson came on and immediately had trouble keeping DeMarcus Ware in front of him. After two drives, Albert made his way back onto the field.

Monday's deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term contracts came and went without a deal for Branden Albert.

Reports indicate talks never got particularly serious between Albert and the Chiefs. It makes sense from the organization's point of view, as Albert has endured back problems in recent years and Kansas City drafted LT-of-the-future Eric Fisher at No. 1 overall. With Albert now bookending Fisher, the Chiefs have a chance to field a top-ten offensive line in 2013.

The Chiefs and franchise player LT Branden Albert continue to discuss a long-term deal.

The Chiefs have yet to make a formal contract offer, so significant work still needs to be done for the two sides to come to an agreement. Albert has signed his franchise tender, so unlike Ryan Clady, he can't hold out. The Chiefs have some concern over the long-term health of Albert's back, but new coach Andy Reid and G.M. John Dorsey have been impressed with what they've seen. It's a situation to monitor as we approach Monday's deadline.