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Updated 5:32 p.m. EDT Tuesday, April 22
After a week of negotiations, the Dolphins officially signed OT Jake Long as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft. According to Adam Schefter of NFL Network, the deal is for five years and $57.5 million, with $30 million guaranteed. Long was a two-time All-America selection at Michigan, and was twice named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. The consensus top-ranked offensive lineman in the draft pool, Long becomes just the third offensive tackle to be taken No. 1 overall, and the first since Orlando Pace in 1997.
"I'm very excited and honored to be able to be part of the Miami Dolphins and this organization," Long said at his introductory press conference on Tuesday. "Now I can just concentrate on football and don't have to worry about any of that other stuff. I just have to worry about getting here, playing, making myself better, learning and getting prepared for the NFL."
The PFW spin
This selection comes as no surprise. Long was the top-ranked player on the Dolphins' board from the outset, and helps fill the void at what was easily their biggest need. Vernon Carey and Julius Wilson are the only two offensive tackles on the roster, and Wilson has not played a down in the NFL.
There’s a school of thought that Long doesn’t have the necessary athleticism to be a dominant left tackle, but GM Jeff Ireland said that the left side is where the team intends for Long to play. The OLT spot does make sense, though, considering Carey — who was a solid left tackle in ’07 — is even better on the right side.
"There is no secret that left tackle is a very pivotal part of your building process," Ireland said. "It's the most important part of the offensive line, in my opinion. It was just a position that we felt comfortable with, it met the needs of our team and it met the board value as well."
Although Miami wanted to trade out of the No. 1 slot, there is simply too much money allocated to the top pick for teams to want to jump up there, especially considering this class is devoid of a bona fide star prospect. But by signing their top guy before the draft, the Dolphins assure themselves of averting the problem of a lengthy holdout, such as what the Raiders dealt with in 2007 with the JaMarcus Russell negotiations.
"We felt like it was an advantage to (get him signed in advance of the draft)," Ireland said. "We got this guy and he's ours. We can start worrying about draft strategy."
The Dolphins now can turn their attention to the second round, where they hold two selections — their own at No. 32 and the Chargers' pick at No. 57, courtesy of a midseason deal in ’07 that sent WR Chris Chambers to San Diego. Although they need to upgrade the talent at a bevy of positions, look for a quarterback to be taken with their first pick of Round Two. The name that's being batted around heavily right now is Delaware QB Joe Flacco, a player whom they might need to trade up to get. They’re also high on Michigan QB Chad Henne, a teammate of Long’s in Ann Arbor, although Henne would be the default option if Flacco is gone.
"I think (trading back into the first round) is something that will be explored," Ireland said. "It will depend if the right player is there."
But for at least the next few days, the Dolphins can rest easy knowing they have the cornerstone of their offense signed, sealed and delivered.
"We feel like he has all the qualities that we're looking for in our linemen," coach Tony Sparano said. "He's very tough, he's smart and he's disciplined. Those are the people that we want to surround ourselves with here with the Dolphins. I think those are the qualities that you need to have to develop what will be, at some point, a very good offensive line down the road."
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