Dolphins reach terms with Jake Long as No. 1 pick

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"With the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins will select . . . Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long.

The Dolphins have scheduled a news conference for 1:45 p.m. Tuesday to announce an agreement of terms with offensive tackle Jake Long, who will become the first selection of this year's NFL Draft on Saturday.

After two weeks of negotiations centered solely around Long, agent Tom Condon and the Dolphins reached a deal that will avoid what could have been a potentially messy holdout had the negotiations lasted beyond Saturday's draft.

The decision to focus on Long occurred largely as a result of in-depth research into the risk involved when selecting a tackle during the first round.

The team's findings during that breakdown of past tackles have led them toward feeling more comfortable about the prospect of selecting Long over such prospects as defensive ends Chris Long and Vernon Gholston."

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/505292.html

[BulletproofLandshark]

1. Good choice

Chris Long is a great player, but IMO the Dolphins need a lot more help on the offensive side of the ball.

[Auggie]

3. Games are won in the trenches

IMO the tackle that protects the QBs blind side is the most important player on offense, after the QB of course.

Parcells is taking it one step at a time.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Funny to have their pick signed before being drafted. Good work tho Dolphins.

[mduffy31]

4. That is fairly common

Mario Williams had a deal before the draft, the Dolphins have "the rights" to any player in the draft right now so they can do this.

[againes654]

6. It has happened before

that doesn't make it "fairly common". I don't like it. They should be allowed to sign until draft day. ESPN builds up the draft for like 11 months before the draft, and then a team is allowed to take all the suspense away 4 days before the draft. Phooy. I don't like it, and I didn't like it when Houston did it either.

[1gobluedem]

5. No way

A number one pick from a horrible league like the Big Ten? No, no, it's not possible! Doesn't the NFL realize that they can't take number one picks from the Big Ten? Especially from a team as lousy as Michigan. :sarcasm:

I hope someone points out this error. :7

Go Blue!

[Awsi Dooger]

11. Chad Henne is speculated as Miami's choice at #32

I'd be okay with that also. But right now I'd prefer Quentin Groves from Auburn in that slot, a disruptive DE/OLB.

[Awsi Dooger]

7. Very sensible pick based on long term excellence

Jake Long was rated extremely high a year ago and he remained there throughout the 2007 season and toward the draft. You'll seldom go wrong with that type of focus. Anywhere. I never fully trust rapid risers.

Many of the other top rated guys were nowhere a year ago, when peeking forward at the '08 draft. I posted links to those old mock drafts on Dolphin websites about a week ago. Jake long was in everyone's top three. Meanwhile, Matt Ryan was nowhere to be seen on anyone's first round projection. Chris Long was either absent the first round or barely sneaking into the final slots.

Jake Long will definitely give Miami a physical presence on the OL, something I've been desperate for, tackle to tackle, since the mid '70s. He may be 5% less athletic than ideal at LT but RT is a down the road option. It appears Miami will shift Vernon Carey from LT to RT to make room for Long.

The other guy who maintained his rating was Glenn Dorsey, who may be picked second by the Rams. Dorsey doesn't thrill me because he lacks the surreal talent level of a Warren Sapp or Jerome Brown or Cortez Kennedy, top defensive linemen who played for my Canes. Also he's already soft and sloppy in the upper body, never a promising sign before the big bucks roll in. But no doubt Dorsey has plenty of talent and should be a good pro. The Dolphins didn't consider him because he's a 4-3 DT and Parcells is a 3-4 guy.

[LisaM]

8. Good for Jake Long!

I'm sure Lloyd Carr is cheering him on somewhere. Lloyd sure has a history of turning out great pro ballplayers. Maybe now he'll have time to enjoy watching them play.

Go Jake and GO BLUE!

[THUNDER HANDS]

9. future bust

this is a horrible pick for the Dolphins.

He's not a franchise tackle. He's no better than Debrickisaw Fergason for the Jets. He's almost the exact opposite of him. Fergason is this smallish, lanky tackle with long arms and good mobility, but no strength. Long is a tackle who is huge and strong as an ox, but is basically a tree with legs. He has no mobility at all, and he's coming off an knee injury, IIRC.

They should have traded down.

[Awsi Dooger]

10. No one was willing to trade down

Not at the going rate, as established by the value chart comparing one slot to the next.

First time in recent memory the Dolphins have three talented linemen -- Long, Satele at C, and Carey at RT.