--While insiders maintain the Dolphins have Jake Long as the highest-rated
prospect in the draft, their grade on the All-American offensive tackle is only
slightly higher than that of pass rushers Vernon Gholston and Chris Long. The
Dolphins are so torn as to whom to select, they're essentially auctioning off
the pick -- for the lowest contract.
Insiders tell me the initial offer sent to Jake Long's representatives was
$10-15 million less than what the first and second picks of last year's draft
(Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell and Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson)
stand to earn with their rookie deals. Should one of the three be willing to
sign for a significantly lower sum, the Dolphins could find themselves drafting
a player who they don't necessarily have ranked at the top of their board.
--Several teams in the top 10 are looking to make a trade, but none more so
than New England. Owners of the seventh overall pick due to their trade during
last year's draft with the San Francisco 49ers, the Patriots aren't opposed
to the idea of moving up to secure a unique pass rusher like Vernon Gholston.
They may look to swing a deal with Kansas City at No. 5 to leapfrog ahead of
the rival Jets.
A significant trade-down possibility also looms, as there is a lot of smoke
coming out Dallas that Jerry Jones is willing to package his two first-round
picks to move into the top 10. So who would the Cowboys be packaging the picks
for -- since running back Darren McFadden is considered a lock to be among the
first six players drafted? Sources wouldn't specify, but the Cowboys are thought
to be quite high on the versatility of Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin and Michigan
state wide receiver Devin Thomas, prospects who also happen to be two of the
elite kick returners in this draft.
--The team most likely to jump back into the late first round would appear
to be the Atlanta Falcons. Thought to be considering Boston College quarterback
Matt Ryan with the third overall pick, the Falcons are more likely to address
their needs at quarterback with one of their three second-round picks. With
Miami reportedly considering taking Chad Henne with the first pick of the second
round, the Falcons may elect to jump ahead of the Dolphins to secure the strong-armed
passer's services. If trading up, the San Diego Chargers, owners of one pick
before the fifth round -- the 28th overall -- may be willing to trade out of
the first round to add extra selections.
--If the Falcons draft someone other than Ryan with the third pick, could it
spark an Aaron Rodgers/Brady Quinn-like drop down the board for the BC passer?
Some teams seem to think so. Three general managers mentioned Ryan as the likeliest
"surprise faller" of 2008's first round. "He's a good player,"
one GM told me, "I'm just not sure he's a great player. Some of the teams
we thought would jump all over him now we're hearing may not." Despite
the hype, Ryan hasn't been a legitimate candidate for the first overall pick
for weeks and may be growing out of favor in the Atlanta and Kansas City front
offices, as well. Some suggest Baltimore, with the eighth pick, is the earliest
Ryan may now go.
--One player who appears well on his way toward recovering his once falling
stock is Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart. In visiting with several teams
over the past two weeks, Stewart is reassuring clubs that his turf toe injury
is healing as expected. Speculated by some as falling out of the first round,
Stewart is now a possibility to make the top 15, and could leap back ahead of
Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall as the second running back selected.
Meanwhile, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey continues to be a hot topic because
of lingering concerns about a 2006 stress fracture in his leg. Dorsey skipped
the medical re-check in Indianapolis in early April, but one team said, "We
checked him and our doctors believe he is healing well." Considered a top
three pick, the perception on Dorsey's leg among teams with high selections
will help shape the first hour of the draft.
Considered a late first-round prospect, Auburn defensive end Quentin Groves
is also trying to steady his stock. He sent a letter to all 32 teams following
heart surgery March 27 to treat his Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. WPW
is an abnormality in the heart's electrical system that can lead to rapid heartbeats
if left untreated. Said a source from one team, "The procedure is effective.
There is no concern."
--The news that Michigan wide receiver Mario Manningham and Kansas cornerback
Aqib Talib admitted to testing positive for marijuana during their collegiate
careers is certain to have a negative impact on their draft stocks. The question
is just how much -- and is it the same for both players? Both are first-round
caliber athletes, but some insiders would be stunned if either was selected
that high. "I don't know how you could justify to your owner that you're
taking one of those two," one source explained. "On the one hand (Manningham)
you've got a guy who lied to your face. On the other, you have a guy (Talib)
who's failed multiple tests."