Report: Dolphins begin negotiating contract with...

[dolphins4life]

I think what happens with JT should determine what we do in this draft.

If we keep him, then go for o-lineman.

If we trade him, go for the D-lineman

[DolFan619]

  What?  You thought this was a one horse race?

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-flspdolphins10sbapr10,0,7093217.story

Contract talks begin with OT Jake Long, and DE Vernon Gholston

By Omar Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

April 10, 2008

Apparently content to keep the No. 1 overall pick, the Dolphins have begun discussing contract parameters with at least two players on their short list of candidates to become the draft's top selection.

Official contract negotiations with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long, and Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston were started this week, according to a source. Coincidentally, Long and Gholston are represented by the same agency, CAA, but have different agents.

Long and Gholston are believed to be two of the five prospects the Dolphins have thoroughly investigated in case they don't trade away the top pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, which takes place on April 26-27.

Virginia defensive end Chris Long, Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, and LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey are the other potential candidates to be taken first overall.

Negotiating a contract before making the selection could allow the Dolphins to avoid a potentially ugly holdout like the one that took place with the Raiders last year over the No. 1 selection of quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Russell missed all of training camp before a six-year deal worth $68 million (with $29 million of it guaranteed) was finalized.

According to another source, the Dolphins "haven't even sniffed at" the possibility of selecting Arkansas running back Darren McFadden with the draft's top pick.

McFadden is viewed as the draft's top offensive player, but the Dolphins appear to be set at running back with Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and Lorenzo Booker already on the roster. Also, Bill Parcells' draft history shows he's traditionally shied away from selecting running backs that high.

Parcells, the Dolphins' new vice president of football operations, generally prefers to start building a team in the trenches. Gholston, Dorsey and both Chris and Jake Long, who are not related, would address that.

Dorsey is viewed as a traditional defensive tackle, one more suited for the 4-3 defensive scheme. The Dolphins are presently set up to play a 3-4 even though coach Tony Sparano won't commit to it until practices start.

Gholston and Chris Long are viewed as the two college defensive ends that would have the smoothest transition to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. The Dolphins have had private meetings with each.

Selecting Jake Long would address the team's most pressing need: the offensive line.

The Dolphins have two glaring holes on the starting line, one at right tackle and the other at left guard. Last week Sparano said the plan is to fill those spots through the draft, allowing the line to "get younger."

Waiting until the second round to draft an offensive linemen could be risky considering most NFL executives and draft analysts say this is the best year for offensive tackles in more than a decade, and believe as many as six could be taken in the first round.

When asked at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis about the possibility of playing for the Dolphins, the 6-foot-7, 313-pound Long said, "It would be an honor."

"They would get a hard-working, passionate player," said Jake Long, who allowed two sacks and was flagged for two penalties throughout his four-year college career. Jake Long and Gholston, who is 6-4, 265 pounds and runs in the 4.6 range in the 40-yard dash, were the two strongest players at the NFL combine. Both bench-pressed 225 pounds 37 times. Jake Long's lone sack of his senior season was to Gholston, who finished his junior season with 14 sacks before entering the draft.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I think what happens with JT should determine what we do in this draft.

If we keep him, then go for o-lineman.

If we trade him, go for the D-lineman

I think that's exactly what's gonna happen.  And the reason they're negotiating with Vernon Ghoulston as opposed to Chris Long is Chris Long is not deemed to be a good fit in the 3-4 scheme which Parcells runs. 

I wouldn't mind Jake Long as our top choice.  He'll be a stud left tackle for the next 10-15 years.

[Defense54]

 

I wouldn't mind Jake Long as our top choice.  He'll be a stud left tackle for the next 10-15 years.

 

And watch the play of our QB, RB and recievers get that much better. I say INK him. But I wouldn't be surprised if Parcells is playing mind games.

[simeon]

I have been a big Matt Ryan advocate but after reading some of these articles it is clear Miami needs help on their offensive line, Jake Long should fill the position and offer more protection for our QB. But I still believe we need a QB maybe we can snag one in the 2nd round.

[gocowboys31]

Good luck trying to convince this years number#1 pick that he isn't worth as much as last years. Sounds like the miami is trying to find a sucker to take the cheapest deal. If they aren't prepared to offer between 27-30 million this deal has zero shot of being completed before the draft.

[Doc-phin]

I like the way the Tuna is playing this!  Is there any way for us to lose in this draft, other than a gamble on Matt Ryan?

If they do take Jake Long I think there is a good chance they put him at right tackle to start out with.  I think they will work on his speed and footwork for a year before putting him on the left.

Just a prediction.