KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have had ongoing discussions with Branden Albert while also giving the Miami Dolphins permission to speak with representatives of the left tackle.
General manager John Dorsey said Friday that the Chiefs haven’t talked to the Dolphins the last couple days, and he has not given the Dolphins permission to do any medical examinations on Albert that would indicate a trade is imminent.
The Chiefs are reportedly seeking a second-round pick for Albert, who received the franchise tag from the team and has already signed a contract that will pay him about $9.3 million.
“All along, I’ve said I will try to explore every opportunity,” Dorsey said. “I’ve tried to talk to the agent. Whatever I say to the agent, I’m sure he’s passing it on to Branden.”
Albert has said he is seeking a long-term contract, and the two sides were not close to a deal before the deadline for franchising players. So after the Chiefs wrapped up long-term deals with pending free-agent wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and punter Dustin Colquitt, they opted to use the tag on Albert, who has spent his entire career in Kansas City.
Dorsey said he’s been in continuous conversations with Albert’s agent, Todd France, but the potential for a new deal seems to have been replaced by a potential trade. The Chiefs, who have the first overall pick in the NFL draft for the first time, sent their second-round choice to San Francisco as part of the package to acquire quarterback Alex Smith.
“Branden Albert is a good football player. We wouldn’t have stuck the franchise tag on him if he wasn’t,” Dorsey said. “That’s what he is. He’s a good football player. It’s my job to explore all options, and that’s kind of what’s going on.”
The Chiefs are expected to choose Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel or Central Michigan tackle Eric Fisher with the first pick in next week’s draft. That means even if Albert remained with the Chiefs, they may try to shift him to the right side — a notion he’s flatly rejected.
Dorsey did say that Albert’s situation has no bearing on the Chiefs’ draft board, which is getting the finishing touches put on it this weekend.
“I don’t think any one scenario is going to influence your draft," he said.

2013 Kansas City Chiefs Schedule
Preseason
Friday, Aug. 9               New Orleans    A      7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 16             San Francisco  H      7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug.  24        Pittsburgh       A      6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 29        Green Bay       H      7 p.m.
Regular season
Sunday, Sept. 8           Jacksonville     A      Noon
Sunday, Sept. 15         Dallas             H      Noon
Thursday, Sept. 19       Philadelphia    A      7:25 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 29          N.Y. Giants     H      Noon
Sunday, Oct. 6             Tennessee      A      Noon
Sunday, Oct. 13           Oakland          H      Noon
Sunday, Oct. 20           Houston          H      Noon
Sunday, Oct. 27           Cleveland       H      Noon
Sunday, Nov. 3            Buffalo           A      Noon
Sunday, Nov. 10          Bye
Sunday, Nov. 17          Denver           A      3:05 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 24          San Diego       H      Noon
Sunday, Dec. 1            Denver           H      Noon
Sunday, Dec. 8            Washington     A      Noon
Sunday, Dec. 15          Oakland          A      3:05 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 22          Indianapolis     H      Noon
Sunday, Dec. 29          San Diego       A      3:25 p.m.