Now that it's all over- Post draft thoughts and analysis.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

All the picks are in, Mr. Irrelevant has been crowned for another year, and the 2008 NFL Draft has come to a close. 

Here are the Dolphins picks by round:

1. Jake Long- OT Michigan
2. Phillip Merling- DE Clemson
2. Chad Henne- QB Michigan
3. Kendall Langford- DT Hampton
4. Shawn Murphy- OG Utah State
6. Jalen Parmele- RB Toledo
6. Donald Thomas- OG Connecticut
6. Lex Hilliard- RB Montana
7. Lionel Dotson- DT Arizona

You can also consider the two guys we got from Dallas for our 4th rounder, LB Akin Adoyele and TE Anthony Fasano part of our draft. 

Any thoughts on what went down?  How do you think we did?  What did we hit on?  What did we miss on? 

Discuss.

[dolphins4life]

So we got Henne with the pick we got for Chambers.  I'd say that was a good move by Mueller.  Probably his only good move though.

I like what we've done I guess, although I STILL disagree with the Booker trade.

[StL FinFan]

No DB, no WR.   

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I'd have to give this draft a C+, although based on how the second day rookies perform, this grade could be raised. 

Fact is, a lot of duplicate positions were chosen on the second day of the draft, and WR, LB, and DB went completely unaddressed. 

I'll trust the Tuna until he gives me a reason not to.

Another good question..... which undrafted free agents are now being targeted?

[simeon]

I am confused why we didnt pick up any WR, we are in desperate need as we have no threat in that position.
Over all I give draft a B grade much better then last years D-

[StL FinFan]

A video I made of the draft class.  Please tell me if I screwed something up before other people notice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVRcp4RoBss

[Sunstroke]

I think giving draft grades the day the draft ends is laughable. They shouldn't be called draft grades at all. For accuracy's sake, they should sometimes be called "how much name recognition did we get?" and other times they should be called "how much do I personally like the players selected." Grading a draft the day the draft ends is like grading dinner before the meal is served...


I give it a B-, because I think dessert is gonna be good.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I think giving draft grades the day the draft ends is laughable. They shouldn't be called draft grades at all. For accuracy's sake, they should sometimes be called "how much name recognition did we get?" and other times they should be called "how much do I personally like the players selected." Grading a draft the day the draft ends is like grading dinner before the meal is served...


I give it a B-, because I think dessert is gonna be good.

I wouldn't grade it the way I did because of name recognition, but largely because a lot of positions of need went ignored, some serious talent was passed over, and they bucked their self proclaimed trend of going for guys from "Big name schools"

[DolFan619]

  I would say a B.  Selecting a second running back, when we could've had a WR baffled me, but all in all a good draft.



 

[Sunstroke]

I wouldn't grade it the way I did because of name recognition, but largely because a lot of positions of need went ignored...

From your perspective. Consider for a moment the possibility that the professional personnel evaluators might have a different opinion of the teams' needs than you or I or any other fan, and of the current rostered players' ability to fill those needs. There are also undrafted rookie FA's to be signed, and a second wave of veteran FA's to diamond-hunt in.

...some serious talent was passed over...

Again, from your perspective. I'm trying to imagine a situation where either Parcells or Ireland says to the other, "Hey, let's pass over some serious talent, for some that's less serious." I just can't do it though, no matter how fertile my imagination.

and they bucked their self proclaimed trend of going for guys from "Big name schools"

They started the draft with Michigan-Clemson-Michigan. Sounds like they got some big school action in there. Past trends were past trends, and were based on the specific players involved in those past drafts. The trends weren't restrictions.

Personally, I am glad that Miami went after the best talent they could get (based, of course on their professional opinion), rather than draft someone from a big school just because he went to a big school.

[DolFan619]

  For those that wanted a receiver, looks like we just got one.  Personally, I think it's GREAT signing.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080427/BREAKING02/80427053

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Personally, I am glad that Miami went after the best talent they could get (based, of course on their professional opinion)

Best talent they could get eh?   Just a few hours ago, I could've sworn I saw you say this:

I hope Parcells-Ireland are right on this one, because I see guys like DT Marcus Harrison, OG Oniel Cousins, CB Charles Godfrey being passed up and I wince a little bit.

I like the first day picks.  The second day picks went against their trend and had me completely baffled. 

Fact is, if Cam Cameron and Randy Mueller had done the drafting for the second day, Dolphins fans would've been storming the practice facility with torches and pitchforks.

[Sunstroke]

Third team AP all-american, Davone Bess... Good signing, but hope he's past some of the behavior issues he had when he was a teenager.

[Dave Gray]

I was very happy with our first day picks, but pretty confused by the 2nd day stuff.

I don't understand drafting the RBs, especially two of them, and especially after we'd just gotten rid of Booker.
From what I read from draft sites, it sounded like Dan Connor, LB Penn State would've been a good selection to start the 3rd round.

I'm not sure I grasp the concept of getting 2 DTs, 2 OGs, and 2 RBs.  Was it to make sure that you had a guy for each of those positions?  Maybe it was a "best available" thing....  Who knows.

Perplexing to say the least.

Day 1 - A
Day 2 - D
Overall - B-

[YoFuggedaboutit]

  For those that wanted a receiver, looks like we just got one.  Personally, I think it's GREAT signing.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080427/BREAKING02/80427053

Good pickup.  I'm sure Samson Satele and Regan Mauia (assuming he doesn't get suspended or kicked off the team), will make him feel right at home.