Chiefs GM on Branden Albert: 'We will continue to negotiate'

Branden Albert's franchise tag means he will be a KC Chief next season. The franchise tag is essentially a one-year contract that will pay him just under $10 million. But Albert, like most players, wants a long-term contract.

And the Chiefs are open to doing just that.

Chiefs GM John Dorsey confirmed the franchise tag for Albert and released a quick statement.

"Today was the league's deadline to designate a franchise player and we felt it was in the best interest of the Kansas City Chiefs to place the tag on Branden," General Manager John Dorsey said. "We will continue to negotiate with Branden and his agent to reach a deal that is mutually beneficial. We are looking forward to working with Branden in the near future."

Important note here: Just because Albert was tagged doesn't mean he can't reach a long-term deal with the Chiefs. He could sign a new deal tomorrow. Or in a month. The deadline for franchise tagged players to sign long-term contract, as we learned last year with Dwayne Bowe, is in mid-July.

So until that date comes, a long-term deal with Albert is still possible. As a practical matter, though, the Chiefs may need clarity before that. The NFL Draft is in late April and Albert's future could impact who they pick.

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