2008 NFL Draft Live Blog

Here I will provide some quick thoughts on each pick as it happens and also some short analysis of every move the Miami Dolphins make. So here we go...

1. MIA - Jake Long: We already knew this, I give my thoughts in an earlier post.
2. STL - Chris Long: They could have traded but this is a solid pick. I think the 4-3 DE is a great position for him
   
3. ATL - Matt Ryan: The right move to fully move on from the Mike Vick era
   
4. OAK - Darren McFadden: Al Davis, what elses did you expect. They have a great QB-RB tandem, but will they have an o-line?
   
5. KC - Glenn Dorsey: This is a gift, a great one for a rebuilding franchise. He will help stop the run in the AFC west
   
6. NYJ - Vernon Gholston: Good point made on NFLN, he and Jake Long will square off twice a year now. Let's hope Jake Long gets the better of the NFL matchups
   
7. NO* - Sedrick Ellis: They really needed a DT and they did a nice job of jumping Cincinatti
   
8. JAX* - Derrick Harvey: They gave up a lot, but if they feel DE is their only missing piece from a Super Bowl, then they got a good one
   
9. CIN - Keith Rivers: They had to settle for a different USC star, they are probably upset
   
10. NE - Jerod Mayo: I thought they would go CB or O-line, but this is a solid pick. Their LB's need some youth and athleticism
11. BUF - Leodis McKelvin: First CB off the board and a good one. He will help in the return game with Roscoe Parrish.
12. DEN - Ryan Clady: He should help protect Jay Cutler, solid pick
    
13. CAR - Jonathan Stewart: They must really love him, I think Mendenhall is a better RB
    
14. CHI - Chris Williams: They could have gone QB but o-line will help their poor QB situation
    
15. KC* - Branden Albert: He shot up the draft boards and is a great piece for their offensive line
16. ARI - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: Great pick.
17. DET - Gosder Cherilus: This is the first WTF?!? moment of the draft. Should have been someone else.
    
18. BAL - Joe Flacco: They must really love him because they could have had many options at #26. He's a great prospect but is a work in progress
19. CAR - Jeff Otah: They are rebuilding that power running game but they gave up way too much in that trade
20. 
    

*Pick acquired via trading up

Miami Acquires Akin Ayodele & Anthony Fasano

It has been reported that the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys have made a trade. Miami has sent their 4th round pick (#100 overall), to Dallas for LB Akin Ayodele and TE Anthony Fasano. When I first heard this, I was perplexed and didn't believe the report. It seems like the Cowboys were giving them away for practically nothing. From the Dolphins perspective, it's a great trade. Instead of using that 4th pick today on a player who may or may not make it in the NFL, we gave it away for linebacker who has shown he can be a consistent NFL player and a tight end who just two years ago was drafted in the second round, but can't get much playing time behind a pro-bowler on the depth chart. I expect Akin Ayodele to come in and compete for an ILB starting spot with Channing Crowder and Reggie Torbor. Right now I'd say it's a toss up as to who will be the one left out. Whichever two perform the best in training camp and the preseason will be the starters. As for Anthony Fasano, he may be the favorite to win the starting job at tight end. There are more players on the roster to compete with but he should be the best. I'll provide more analysis on this transaction and all of our draft picks and transactions when the weekend is complete. I'll also be pseudo-live blogging the draft, providing quick thoughts on each pick and short analysis of all of Miami's moves. That can be found in the post above this or by clicking here.

Jake Long Agrees To Contract

The Deal

The Dolphins have agreed to terms with Jake Long and he will be made the number one pick in this year's draft. Reportedly the deal is for $57.75 million over five years, with $30 million of that being guaranteed. It is good to now that a deal is done and we won't have a lengthy hold out, like last year's Jamarcus Russell. Jake Long wasn't my number one choice, but he was number two and I am content with this decision. He fills our biggest position of need, and projects to be a great player. I also think he doesn't have much bust potential. The worst that could happen is that he just isn't the best left tackle and will have to play on the right side. One, I don't think it will happen and two, even if it does, he will dominate that side.

Our Offensive Line

With our biggest hole in the roster now filled, it make our offensive line shape up pretty nicely. Four out of the five spots seem to be assured. It looks like this:

• LT: Jake Long
• LG: Justin Smiley
• C: Samson Satele
• RG: to be determined
  
• RT: Vernon Carey

There is always a thought that Satele could move to guard and then our vacancy would be at center. Some candidates to fill the vacancy are Drew Mormino, Trey Darilek, Ike Ndukwe, or anybody we may draft on day two.

What Do We Do Now?

Barring a crazy scenario involving trading Jake Long, it is time to focus on our next pick (#32 overall) which is also very important. Here are a couple ideas on who might be that second round pick.

• First Theory: It will be a guy who inexplicably falls out of the first round. Every year there is at least one player who, for no reason, isn't selected in the first round, even though he was though of to be a consensus first round pick. Hopefully management has done their homework on guys who are expected to be late first rounders, so if some become available, we can make the steal.
• Second Theory: Miami will make it an all-big blue first day of the draft and select Chad Henne. Word has it that the Dolphins love this guy and considering there is no proven quarterback on the roster, they could better their odds by grabbing another second rounder at the position.
  
• Third Theory: Your guess is as good as mine. It was hard enough to predict the first pick in the draft. Trying to prognosticate who will go thirty-second is immensely difficult. With our biggest position need filled, it can be any position and any number of prospects.
  

We Are Not Dead: Schedule Release More Important Than Draft News

I know we have been inactive here at TG&T for over a month but honestly, is our draft situation really much different than it was one month ago? The only real significant news is that the organization is resigned to having to select someone number one and not trading that pick. It also appears that Matt Ryan is not on their big board anymore. It still looks like a battle between Jake Long, Chris Long, and Vernon Gholston. It has been made aware that the Dolphins are currently negotiating with Jake Long. Supposedly he has been offered a deal which is less than last year's number one pick, Jamarcus Russell.

As for my opinion. I would select Chris Long. I would be perfectly content though if Jake Long is the pick. I do have some reservations about Vernon Gholston though. If he is a cheap option, I guess it's worth it, but he has bust potential.

One more draft tidbit for you. I can't believe the, "Dolphins should pass on #1 and fall down to #3-5 theory," has actually been written and talked about by big media outlets. It's the dumbest idea, it won't happen, and like I said, I can't believe it has gotten so much coverage as if it's an actual strategy that may be employed. If you haven't heard about what this idea is, consider yourself lucky to not have wasted a minute of brain time trying to dissect it.

On to the major news of the day, the official 2008 NFL schedules were announced today. I love how it has become such an event with NFL Network and ESPN having special shows for the unveiling. We have known every team's opponents for some time now. Is the order of the schedule really that significant? No. The order of opponents won't drastically change a teams strength of schedule. The only important thing to come out of the release is who will be playing on Sunday and Monday nights. Anyway, here is the Dolphins schedule.

1		New York Jets	Sun. 1:00pm
2	at	Arizona Cardinals	Sun. 4:15pm
3	at	New England Patriots	Sun. 1:00pm
4		BYE
5		San Diego Chargers	Sun. 1:00pm
6	at	Houston Texans	Sun. 1:00pm
7		Baltimore Ravens	Sun. 1:00pm
8		Buffalo Bills	Sun. 1:00pm
9	at	Denver Broncos	Sun. 4:05pm
10		Seattle Seahawks	Sun. 1:00pm
11		Oakland Raiders	Sun. 1:00pm
12		New England Patriots	Sun. 1:00pm
13	at	St. Louis Rams	Sun. 1:00pm
14	at	Buffalo Bills (in Toronto)	Sun. 4:05pm
15		San Francisco 49ers	Sun. 1:00pm
16	at	Kansas City Chiefs	Sun. 1:00pm
17	at	New York Jets	Sun. 1:00pm

At first glance, I saw the four road games out of our last five and thought the NFL screwed us again, especially when I saw that two of those December road games were cold weather sites Buffalo and New York. Then I noticed that the Buffalo game will actually be in Toronto (so the Dolphins can showcase their inability to another country, again!) which will be in a dome. Also, all those road games at the back and front end of the schedule mean that the meat of our season will have six home games in eight weeks. I kind of like that. Anyway, what does it really matter? We aren't supposed to do good are we?