The makeover of the Miami Dolphins continued on Saturday with the addition of three new players who will look to make an immediate impact. When you have a new owner with ties to the University of Michigan how do you please such owner? You draft two players from the University of Michigan in the first two rounds. All kidding aside though, in hindsight, Jake Long was an obvious selection with the #1 overall pick. Dorsey didn’t fit our defensive system, Chris Long is undersized and too risky to take #1 overall, there was no need for McFadden, and so at the end of the day selecting Jake Long makes perfect sense. I mean how can you not love a guy who only gave up 1 sack and committed 1 penalty his entire senior season? And he was playing against top tier competition in the Big 10 week in and week out. The question of course is whether or not he has the foot speed to play left tackle at the next level. One thing going for him is his reach and long wing-span. That will help with his slower foot-work. And let’s be honest, worst comes to worst and if Jake can’t cut it at left tackle, then we just drafted a perennial pro bowler as a right tackle. Which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if you ask me. Jake Long is a safe pick and anytime you can sign the #1 overall pick at a 15% discount over last years #1 overall pick, then you not only get a great player but get such player at a bargain.

 

With the first pick in round two the Dolphins had a first round talent fall right into their lap. Phillip Merling if not for injuries would have been a Top 15-20 selection in this draft. Mel Kiper Jr had Merling going 21st to Washington in his mock. Mike Mayock had Merling going even higher than that. Merling was the third rated defensive end on most teams boards behind only Chris Long and Vernon Gholston, and oh yeah incase you didn’t notice, both of those guys went in the Top 6. So, to get the third rated defensive end in Round 2 is a steal to state the obvious. Merling is a classic 5-Technique in a 3-4 defensive system. He is outstanding against the run but lacks top speed as a pass rusher. I think a key in this selection was that Parcells and Merling have the same agent so it looks like Parcells has some inside info on Merling and his injury. His injury wasn’t serious; it was only a sports hernia injury. He is fully recovered and actually had his pro day on Friday right before the draft. Do not be shocked if Merling is starting Week 1 for the Dolphins and if he isn’t then by mid-season at the latest he probably will be.

Now things got interesting at pick #57 and Chad Henne. It is pretty safe to say that Jeff Ireland and Bill Parcells are not big fans of John Beck because if they were, then you don’t draft Chad Henne at pick #57. Henne has a big arm and lacks mobility….hmmm, where have we heard that before? The one problem with Henne’s game is that he lacks accuracy at times and that is something he will need to work on. Chad was a 4 year starter at Michigan and has a ton of experience. I believe this pick was nothing short of genius. You could have made a case for taking Henne at #32 so to get him at #57 is great value. I am not a believer in John Beck, so I am all for taking a QB in this draft. What I saw out of Beck last year was not good, not good at all. And the mistakes Beck made wasn’t because of a lack of supporting cast in my opinion. Ireland and Parcells had John Beck throw some 4,000 balls this offseason and they went over him and his abilities (or lack thereof) with a fine tooth comb. They obviously saw something they didn’t like. Beck will have his chance this year to prove the GM, Coach, and VP all wrong; he better make the most of it or the Chad Henne era in Miami will start sooner rather than later.

As we head into Day 2 of the draft there are two storylines that really stick out for the Dolphins. First, will the Dolphins swallow their pride and trade Jason Taylor for a 3rd round draft pick. I think the answer is yes. As much as I am for holding on to Jason till October and the NFL trade deadline, and try moving him there. I think this new regime in Miami wants him gone ASAP. At worst we get a 3rd in return for Jason. At best I think we get a 3rd and maybe a conditional 4th in 2009 that could turn into another 3rd. I believe Green Bay, Tampa Bay, and Washington are all potential trade partners here. Don’t be shocked to wake up Sunday morning with news of Jason Taylor being traded.

The other storyline is do the Dolphins at pick #64 select a third Michigan player with WR Mario Manningham. Unlike Jake Long and Chad Henne this Michigan player has some serious red flags. For one he lied to every team at the combine in his face to face interviews about previous drug use. Then had to write an apology letter a few weeks later and send it to every team in the league. We know Parcells and how he feels about guys with "character issues" and will this red flag scare him off Mario? Miami does have a need at WR in a bad way and he has selected two U of Michigan players already, will the Dolphins make it three Wolverines? I think Mario is in the discussion at pick #64 and is being talked about in Davie, FL tonight as a possibility. Although, as I sit here now, I believe with the first pick of Round 3 the Dolphins will select Charles Godfrey the CB out of Iowa. Mel Kiper has him rated as his 6th best corner but he also has the ability to play safety as well. A versatile, dynamic, speedster in the secondary is what Miami needs in a bad way.

Looking at Day 1 of Miami’s draft, they pick up a franchise left tackle, an impact defensive linemen who has first round talent and just happened to fall to them in round 2, and possibly their quarterback of the future. They also trade Lorenzo Booker for a 4th round pick and get back into the 4th round after trading away their 4th round pick Friday night for most likely two starters (Akin and Fasano). All in all it was a very good day for the Miami Dolphins and a good first draft for Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland, and Tony Sprano. We can only hope Sunday brings more positive results.