Kansas City Chiefs: Every First Round Draft Pick Since 2000

EVERY CHIEFS FIRST ROUND PICK – 2008 NFL DRAFT: BRANDEN ALBERT

Oddly enough, the Chiefs’ second first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft was out of the NFL after the 2016 season as well, but his time as a Chief went much better. Branden Albert, who the Chiefs were able to draft due to flipping picks with Detroit (Jared Allen’s trade to Minnesota was involved with this pick somehow I think), spent six years in Kansas City.

Albert spent his college days as an offensive guard, but was moved to the tackle position in Kansas City. He struggled throughout his first few years, but soon became one of the better tackles in the NFL. His efforts in 2012 were so impressive that he was slapped with the franchise tag for the 2013 season.

The Chiefs had drafted Eric Fisher with the number one overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, which pretty much answered the question as to what Albert’s future would be. It wouldn’t be with the Chiefs, even with Albert having his best pro season in 2013. Being injured for four games was likely the kicker in being okay with letting him walk, plus he was basically mentoring Fisher during that 2013 campaign.

Fisher’s position of choice in college was at left tackle, but that’s where Albert had made his presence known over the years. With Albert at left, the Chiefs hoped to have Fisher become their right tackle of the future, but it just wasn’t working for Big Fish over on the right side.

After the 2013 season, the Chiefs let Branden Albert walk and he signed a massive deal with the Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile, Eric Fisher got to move back to left tackle and he looked better there once Albert had departed.

Albert remained in Miami through the 2016 season and was traded to the Jaguars in 2017. Albert would never end up playing for the Jags, however, as he retired the summer before the season began. A week later, he unretired, but still never played a game for Jacksonville.

While Branden Albert turned out to be a pretty good pick for the Kansas City Chiefs, he didn’t live up to the hype of the massive contract he signed in Miami. When it comes down to it, however, most Chiefs fans would probably pick Albert 15th overall again if they had the chance.