NFL Team: Miami Dolphins 2008 Picks
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| NFL Team: Miami Dolphins 2008 Picks | ||||
| RD | PK(OVR) | NAME | POS | SCHOOL |
| 1 | 1(1) | Jake Long | OT | Michigan |
Jake Long's not the best overall player on the board, but the Dolphins needed a left tackle. Some people say he's a better fit on the right side, but we disagree. He's fundamentally sound enough in pass protection to be a capable blind-side protector from Day 1, and while he's certainly not as athletic as Joe Thomas -- Cleveland's first-round pick a year ago -- Long is a better run blocker than Thomas was coming out of college. Long can play a similar role to the one Jumbo Elliot played with Bill Parcells with the Giants in the 1980s. Video  Complete analysis  | ||||
| 2 | 1(32) | Phillip Merling | DE | Clemson |
| Merling's stock dropped because of a sports hernia injury. He's going to have a harder time turning the corner at the NFL level because he doesn't have great speed. However, he has good size and some experience lining up at defensive tackle. If he can improve his upper-body strength and learn to play lower, he could be an excellent run-stopper and effective bull-rusher. Complete analysis | ||||
| 2 | 26(57) | Chad Henne | QB | Michigan |
| From Chargers | ||||
| Henne has good size and very good arm strenghth, so he can find the open receiver and get him the ball. Much like Brohm, he's a student of the game; his ability to break down defense should improve with time. However, he's a little statuesque in the pocket, so he has problems buying time in the pocket and is not a threat to scramble. More importantly, he has tendency to lock on to his primary receiver. Complete analysis | ||||
| 3 | 3(66) | Kendall Langford | DE | Hampton |
| From Chiefs through Lions | ||||
| Langford's never going to be an elite pass-rusher as he simply doesn't have the explosiveness or agility to get to the quarterback off the edge on a consistent basis. On the other hand, he has the makings of an excellent 3-4 end. He has good size and the frame to get even bigger, shows good lower-body strength and has the upper-body strength to control blockers. Complete analysis | ||||
| 4 | 11(110) | Shawn Murphy | OG | Utah State |
| From Bears | ||||
| Murphy is a small-school prospect with good quickness for his size, but he needs to develop a mean streak. With this pick the Dolphins are continuing to build depth on the offensive line. | ||||
| 6 | 10(176) | Jalen Parmele | RB | Toledo |
| From Lions | ||||
| He's a big back who runs hard between the tackles and catches the ball well. He also has good top-end speed, but he takes too long to reach it. As a result, he's going to have a hard time turning the corner at the NFL level. | ||||
| 6 | 29(195) | Donald Thomas | OG | Connecticut |
| From Cowboys | ||||
| He displays adequate feet, bends naturally in the knees, displays brute strength and does a good job rooting defenders off the ball. Does not possess elite lower-body strength and struggles to adjust on the fly while trying to hit moving targets. | ||||
| 6 | 38(204) | Lex Hilliard | RB | Montana |
| Compensatory selection | ||||
| Hilliard lined up at running back at Montana and should be a productive short-yardage runner at the NFL level. However, he's probably going to fit better at fullback in the NFL; he doesn't have great speed or elusiveness. It will also take some time for him to develop as a blocker. | ||||
| 7 | 38(245) | Lionel Dotson | DT | Arizona |
| Compensatory selection | ||||
| He has a strong upper body and active hands, so he can shed blocks. The problem is that he doesn't have great size and he plays too high, so he's frequently shedding blocks three yards downfield. | ||||