Michigan Tackle Jake Long Signs with Miami; Becomes First Overall Pick
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 The Miami Dolphins have signed their number one pick. Jake Long becomes the first offensive tackle taken number one overall in the NFL Draft since the St. Louis Rams selected Orlando Pace out of Ohio State in 1997. Pace went on to make seven Pro Bowls.
Long, who played his college career with the Michigan Wolverines, signed a contract worth reportedly $57.75 million that guarantees him $30 million. The Miami Dolphins and Long’s agent Tom Condon started contract negotiations about a week ago and came to an agreement last night. Long signed the contract this morning after flying to Miami from Detroit.
This contract makes Jake Long the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL and he has yet to play a down. JaMarcus Russell, the first overall pick last year received a $61 million contract, but terms of that contract were not agreed to until September. By signing Long before the draft begins (this Saturday at 3:00 pm eastern), the Miami Dolphins have avoided such a holdout.
“It's really important for us to know Jake is going to be on the field for us on time when training camp begins in July,” Head Coach Tony Sparano said. “That was critical.”
Long played at both right tackle and left tackle at Michigan. He was Big Ten offensive lineman of the year in 2006 and 2007 when he played left tackle. There has been speculation by scouts and analysts leading up the draft as to what position Long is best suited for in the NFL.
“We see Jake as a left tackle,” Sparano said. “Left tackle is our need, and that’s where he’s going to be playing for [the Miami Dolphins].”
This means that 2004 first round pick, Vernon Carey, will move back to his natural position at right tackle. Carey had his best season in 2006 when he played right tackle, but was moved back to the left side in 2007.
The Dolphins now have four of their five linemen in place: left tackle will be Jake Long, left guard is still open, center will be incumbent Samson Satele, right guard will be Justin Smiley who was acquired from the San Francisco 49ers on the first day of free agency, and finally right tackle will be Vernon Carey.
Having locked up their first round pick four days before the draft, the Miami Dolphins now have more time to concentrate on their two second round picks, the first coming at number 32.
When asked whether this is an advantage for the Dolphins, General Manager Jeff Ireland replied, “This is absolutely an advantage. It helps with what we’re doing at 32, and what we’re doing with any trades.”
The Dolphins have a number of needs, and one of them is at quarterback. The team is supposedly most interested in Michigan quarterback Chad Henne. Henne’s stock could rise even more before the draft depending on when Matt Ryan, the top prospect at the quarterback position, is chosen. This might force the Dolphins to couple their two second round picks and trade back into the first round.
The team’s newest member, Jake Long, likes the idea of drafting Henne.
“That would be nice,” Long said. “That would be fun.”
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