Branden

Albert

The Chiefs may have more significant contract-year players than any team in the league. Albert, Dwayne Bowe, essentially both defensive ends, Peyton Hillis, Ryan Lilja, and Jovan Belcher are all in their walk seasons. Albert turned a corner in 2011 and will be looking for a big pay day, perhaps ahead of camp.

K.C. has plenty of remaining cap room to frontload an Albert deal and get him locked up long term. “That’s in the future. I’ll just do my job and whatever comes, comes,” said Albert, who changed agents last month. Albert graded out as Pro Football Focus’ fifth-ranked left tackle in pass blocking last season.

In other words, Chiefs backs had their greatest success behind LT Branden Albert, who also graded out well as a pass protector in Pro Football Focus’ ratings. First-year starting RG Jon Asamoah excelled as a pass-blocker, but has room to grow in the run game. The Chiefs figure to look for an upgrade on free agent Barry Richardson at right tackle this offseason.

Jackson’s playing-time bonus was easily the most among NFL players this year. Teammate Glenn Dorsey’s base salary has increased from $4.356 million to $5.856 million while LT Branden Albert saw his salary jump from $1.03 million to $2.7175 million. Jackson finally came close to playing up to his draft status in 2011, excelling against the run. His Chiefs career hits a crossroads next offseason now that incentives have pushed his 2013 salary to $14.72 million.

Albert went down in the third quarter and didn’t return. The Chiefs were already playing without starting C Ryan Lilja (knee) and starting RG Jon Asamoah. The only viable fantasy play in Kansas City right now is Jamaal Charles.

With C Ryan Lilja (knee) and RG Jon Asamoah (thumb) also banged up, Kansas City enters this Sunday’s home tilt with an extremely thin offensive line to protect Brady Quinn against his former team. Albert has been one of the league’s elite left tackles thi season. Von Miller and the Broncos defense are set up to have another big day.

Albert put in another limited practice on Saturday. He and center Ryan Lilja (neck) are both questionable, while LG Jeff Allen (head) is probable. Third-round rookie OT Donald Stephenson would get the start on Matt Cassel’s blind side if Albert were forced to miss. Kansas City and Pittsburgh play on Monday night.

Reid said Albert “will” be at practice, indicating they’ve reached some of kind of arrangement that isn’t a long-term deal but will reunite Kansas City’s sixth-year left tackle with the only team he’s ever known. The agreement likely means the Chiefs have called off trade efforts, at least for now, because Albert’s $9.828 million franchise tender is fully guaranteed and he’ll face some risk of injury at offseason practice. If the season began today, Kansas City’s impressive O-Line would likely look like this: LT Albert, LG Jeff Allen, C Rodney Hudson, RG Jon Asamoah, and RT Eric Fisher. It’s a good group for Jamaal Charles.

Albert participated in the entire practice despite 90-degree temperatures. He also has his head on straight after some ugly contract negotiations. “Everybody makes mistakes. Through this whole process, I realized I made mistakes,” Albert said. “I shouldn’t have said certain things. That’s part of the game -- learn from it and move on.” Reid said he’s ready to roll with the following offensive line: LT Albert, LG Jeff Allen, C Rodney Hudson, RG Jon Asamoah and RT Eric Fisher. It has the potential to be an extremely solid unit.

Despite a rocky past few months, Albert appears to be in positive spirits now. He recently noted via Instagram that he’s fired up to be back with the Chiefs as their starting left tackle. Albert will play out this year on a one-year, $9.828M franchise tender and then try to break the bank in free agency.