Jake Long: A Great Pick by the Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins agreed to terms with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long on April 22, 2008, five days before the 2008 NFL Draft. This is a great signing and selection for the Dolphins, who won just one NFL regular season game last season. Why is he such a good signing for them? Here are just a few reasons why drafting Jake Long is one of the best decisions for the Miami Dolphins over the long haul.

1. It all starts with the offensive line.

Look at the 2007 St. Louis Rams and their offense. Despite a very strong offensive unit, with RB Steven Jackson, QB Marc Bulger, and a solid receiving core, the offense struggled to score points. Despite injuries, their poor performance can only be attributed to their lack of a strong offensive line. Left Tackle Orlando Pace struggled with injuries all last season, and Alex Barron is still learning the ropes at right tackle. Jake Long is a very safe pick, boasting a productive career at the University of Michigan, so he should be able to pay immediate dividends for Miami RB Ronnie Brown and their developing backfield.

2. The money is steep, but it is worth it.

Instead of putting your money in a QB that could just as easily boom or bust (Matt Ryan, Brian Brohm), why not put some money in a left tackle that has two solid years of production, is fairly injury free, and can dominate opposing defensive ends? The cost of quality left tackles will no doubt rise after what happened with the New England Patriots in the 2007-2008 Super Bowl. Having a strong tackle to protect your QB from getting hit seems to accomplish two things: it will increase the QBs efficiency in the pocket and provide him more time to make a throw, as well as minimize actual hits on the QB (minimizing injury risk). Miami is making an investment that is fairly safe and justified.

3. With no clear standout prospect in the class, Jake Long is about as good of a pick as you could make.

There isn't any need for Matt Ryan if the organization uses a second round pick on a QB the year before. They are set in the backfield, so adding Darren McFadden wouldn't make much sense. Jake Long addresses a need at a high priority position, and it is hard to argue with their final decision.

It will be very interesting to see how Jake Long turns out in the NFL. I applaud this pick by the Dolphins and hope to see more picks like this for them in the future.