2008 NFL Draft Review

'08 Draft Review: 2008 Miami Dolphins Draft Review

Round 1, Pick 1: Jake Long, the blue chip OT from Michigan was signed, sealed and delivered before the draft ever got under way, and the Dolphins deserve credit for getting it done, and for getting it done cheaper than last year's number one Pick, QB JaMarcus Russell. Now, was an offensive the right pick at the very top of the draft? That is a very open question. Everyone's consensus is that, at the very worst, Long will very likely be a pro bowl RIGHT tackle. Usually, you would never draft a tackle number one, unless he was a consensus "can't miss" pro bowl LEFT tackle, and Jake Long is not that guy. With 3 or 4 other players considered to be of equal value (RB McFadden, DT Dorsey, DE Gholston, and DE Chris Long, in particular) the question for me had to be whether or not the Dolphins could still get a top-line DE prospect at the top of round two. When they pulled that move off, for me, that sealed the deal, and made Long's selection look like another of Parcells' long-line of draft day magic moves. Grade: A-

Round 2, Pick 32: Phillip Merling was the #4 DE prospect in this draft on many boards, and some thought he could go as high as the teens. To see the Dolphins grab him at the top of round two was breathtaking. Now, some teams shied away because of the injury concerns, but the Dolphins had more inside info on Merling than any other team in the NFL. They seem to feel he will be fine, and if he is healthy, he could be very, very fine indeed. Grade: A-

Round 2, Pick 57: Chad Henne is not the biggest QB. He doesn't have the best arm (that belonged to Joe Flacco this year), and he has not been able to prove his value lately due to a string of nagging injuries, but what he has is leadership, smarts, toughness, production, and the willingness to lay it all on the line, and he is also a winner from a big-time winning program...Can he beat out John Beck? Hard to say. Beck still has some magic to his game that has never really been all that apparent in Henne. Beck is also older and more seasoned now, even if BYU isn't quite Michigan. But that year of NFL experience is tough to knock if you didn't bomb, and Beck didn't--despite his detractors. Henne was projected as a 40ish value in terms of his NFL positioning for this draft, so getting him at #57, again, has the look of brilliance. Grade A

Round 3, Pick 66: Kendall Langford's small school pedigree and questionable work ethic are probably the only things that kept him from going higher. This kid has the potential to become a beast. He has everything you want in 3-4 end candidate. Long arms, huge frame, room to get even bigger. He hasn't always had that "fire" that you need to be more than just a guy at the next level, however, but we bet the Dolphins will find the fuse. Still, he could have probably been had a tad later. Not really a reach, because other teams were "on" to his potential, but we needed evidence they were thinking of taking him in the 60s to grade this pick higher, and didn't get it. Grade C+

Round 4, pick 110: Shawn Murphy who?...A lot of Dolphin fans were probably a tad incredulous at this selection. But to know Murphy is to love him. He is a solid citizen, tough, very nice size for an OG (320 pounders who can move were not that common this year) and can even play ROT in a pinch. 110 is right where we had him pegged. Grade: A

Round 6, pick 176: Jalen Parmele is another one of those MAC backs who will make it. We had him as the 2nd best back available after round 4, and he is going to surprise people with how good he is for a 6th rounder. Not real shifty, not real fast, but he is big and productive. Mark our words, this is the best 6th round back you could have possibly have asked for! Grade: A

Round 6, Pick 195: UConn's OG Donald Thomas has some potential, and again he is decent value here. Not the elite prospect some thought he might be becoming as the 2007 season ended and the draft process began. Spindly-legged and not the most focused or instinctive guy around. Needs to get stronger in the lower body. Liability in pass pro at this level. Does OK with what the Good Lord gave him and has some upside. Still, I think the Dolphins might have gotten caught up a little in the late season hype on this kid. Grade: B-

Round 6, pick 204: Lex Hilliard is a smallish FB without the wheels to play HB at this level at all. He did a very nice job at IAA Montana, but Billings is a long, long way from Miami and the AFC East. He is a tough (play that broken record again) PARCELLS guy though. Still, Hilliard was a UDFA on most boards. Grade: C+

Round 7, pick 245: Lionel Dotson, DT...Here is a 7th rounder with a shot. Newcomer Jason Ferguson is the NT ahead of him on the depth chart if the Dolphins do indeed switch into the 3-4 as expected, Ferguson can be pushed. Dotson is better than most people think, and was really just getting onto draft boards after putting it together in the 2007 season for University of Arizona. We predict he will make the team. Grade: B+

The Parcells factor can not be under-stated. The Dolphins are heading back very quickly to becoming a tough and nasty football team...Did you see any little guys drafted here? No WRs, no CBs...This is a classic Parcells draft, and Dolphins fans should be very happy indeed. They are very likely out of the basement in the AFC East at a bare minimum...maybe more. The big question will be: Henne or Beck? If that question gets answered resoundingly, these fish will bite.

Overall grade: A-