DAVIE, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins veteran left tackle Branden Albert vividly remembers his first meeting with rookie Laremy Tunsil earlier this year. There were questions and a little unspoken tension between the two.

How would Albert, a Pro Bowl left tackle, react to Miami drafting his eventual replacement? How would Tunsil, a high-profile first-round pick, approach his new teammates?

And, yes, there was that ugly draft-day incident that was the talk of the sports world and that required some explaining. A video of Tunsil wearing a gas mask smoking a substance through a bong surfaced on social media moments before the NFL draft, something his agent later said was a result of Tunsil's account being hacked. That began a bizarre night, punctuated by character concerns, that saw Tunsil’s stock drop from a top-five pick to No. 13, where the Dolphins selected him.

“When he first met me, he was reading me, and I’m trying to read him,” Albert said this week of Tunsil. “And he doesn't know what I’m thinking. People are saying he’s going to be the future left tackle, and he doesn’t know how I’m going to react or how I’m looking at him.”

Today, Albert is Tunsil’s closest friend and confidant on the Dolphins. The nine-year veteran was among the first of many within the organization to make Tunsil feel welcome, and this season the two have combined to form one of the top guard-offensive tackle combos in the NFL. Albert has taken on a big-brother role and says he encourages Tunsil regularly by telling him, “You can be a 14-time Pro Bowler.”

The Dolphins (8-5) viewed drafting Tunsil as an opportunity, not a distraction. They were confident in their background work on the Ole Miss product, and nearly eight months later, his nightmarish draft night is essentially a nonissue. Tunsil is completing his rookie redemption story by being a force on the offensive line and a strong cog in Miami’s playoff push.

“This is the best situation that’s ever happened to me,” Tunsil told ESPN.com. “I think things happen for a reason. You get what I’m saying? It’s just crazy how things happen. I’m back in my home [state], and I’m with a great group of guys. There’s not much more I can ask for.”

It took an organizational effort to get Tunsil to this point.

The Dolphins’ initial message to Tunsil was simple: They were going to go by what they see in front of them, not his past. The Dolphins, particularly with the addition of first-year head coach Adam Gase, have a strong belief in meritocracy. Players are held accountable and earn everything they get. Tunsil appreciated the clean slate and ran with it.

Tunsil has been compliant with the Dolphins and is a hard worker. Something that’s been noticeable is the rookie doesn’t take shortcuts, and that has helped earn the respect of his teammates. Tunsil’s only slip-up -- literally -- was a freak accident. He fell in the shower and injured his ankle hours before Miami’s Oct. 9 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Dolphins coaches have made several jokes about it in the media since then, which is an indication of how comfortable the team is with Tunsil and vice versa. Tunsil doesn’t take himself too seriously and has a sense of humor.

Miami’s offensive line also is stocked with veterans who continue to push Tunsil. Albert and center Mike Pouncey have been in Pro Bowls. Right tackle Ja'Wuan James is a 2014 first-round pick. Veteran guard Jermon Bushrod won a Super Bowl as a member of the New Orleans Saints. Tunsil said “it felt good” to have that wealth of knowledge and support around him daily in practice and the meeting rooms and on game day.

“The situation that he came in with, it was not ideal. If anything, that’s probably the first time anything like that has happened,” Bushrod said. “He’s a good kid, and our coaches reiterated that to us when he came in here. When you talk to him, you can see what kind of person he was. He’s a good dude. Someone tried to hurt his image. But, you know, if you’re a good guy you’ll always be accepted, and he was accepted by all the guys in here. He has all the qualities and fits in this locker room and what we’re trying to get accomplished.”

Albert sees the long-term vision with Tunsil. Albert remembers his early seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, when offensive lineman Brian Waters taught Albert how to be a pro. Albert is paying it forward with Tunsil at a time when guidance is needed. Tunsil is wise enough to know he should be ready to do the same when that time comes.

“As a matter of fact, I was just thinking about that [recently] when I was on the field: B.A. is getting me ready,” Tunsil said of Albert. “Say I’m here nine or 10 years and another rookie comes in, and I can mentor him and teach that rookie all the things B.A. taught me. That’s unique.”

Tunsil already has come a long way to make people forget about his draft-day incident. If the rookie lives up to Albert’s expectation, the Dolphins have a keeper for many years to come.

“He could be the best left tackle in football,” Albert said. “He could be the best offensive lineman in football if he stays healthy and works at it.”