I think it’s unlikely that the Miami Dolphins will hold onto the first overall pick in April’s draft, but if they don’t trade it away to some team gaga over Darren McFadden or Matt Ryan, I think they might just grab Michigan All-American tackle Jake Long.
Nope, taking an offensive lineman is never a sexy pick, but as my good friend John Tuvey is fond of saying: “It all starts up front!” Of course, he just says that because he played on the line in college… and because he likes to mock Dan Dierdorf.
Where was I? Oh yeah, taking an offensive lineman is never sexy, but something tells me that new Dolphins GM Bill Parcells could give a crap about sexy. What he does care about is loading up with talent, which is why if he doesn’t stockpile picks by trading away the first one, I think he just might address one of their many positions of need by grabbing Long number one.
Long just got done turning in one of the most, if not THE most, impressive workouts at the combine in Indianapolis this week. The 6-7, 315-pound, heavily-tattooed monster wowed the stopwatch-carrying scouts in all the drills, but especially in the bench press where he tied with Vernon Gholston by putting up 225 for a combine-high 37 reps. Coincidentally, Gholston is the only player to beat Long for a sack during his senior year.
Going with Long is hardly a (ahem) long shot. He’s the safest pick in this year’s draft.
Filed under: Fantasy Football
While I see Jake Long as a possible option, I think Tuna will go with the “other” Long: Chris. Not only is he perfect for the 3-4 defense they want to install but he’s also the prototypical Parcells player – nonstop motor and great athleticism. Meanwhile, I think Miami will be stuck with the no.1 overall pick – no one wants to take on the salary of a no.1 pick these days.
My 2-cents.
[...] in the draft? Who was that who actually published a mock that said he would be their pick? Oh yeah, that was me. However, I will stop patting myself on the back now. I don’t want to pull my arm out of socket, [...]