Dolphins complete trades with Jaguars, gain Julius Thomas, lose Branden Albert

The Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars have completed the trades both teams worked out earlier in the offseason. The first trade sends offensive tackle Branden Albert from the Dolphins to the Jaguars in exchange for a 2018 seventh-round draft pick, while the other deal brings tight end Julius Thomas to Miami for a 2017 seventh-round pick.

Both deals, to include physicals and re-worked contracts, were negotiated in February but could not be finalized until the start of the new league year today.

The Dolphins needed to add a tight end to the roster, looking to bolster their two-tight end sets favored by head coach Adam Gase. Miami appears to be losing Dion Sims, their top tight end from 2016, but have signed free agent tight end Anthony Fasano, who played for the club from 2008 to 2011,

The team had planned to release Albert, but pulled back on those plans when trade interest emerged, now getting a seventh-round pick for a player they were willing to allow to leave with no compensation.

Miami will now use second-year lineman Laremy Tunsil as the team’s starting left tackle.