Turning Our Attention to the NFL Draft Picks

By Trey Cosby

Now that we have completed the NCAA Basketball Tournament, we as Americans are going to be focused on Major League Baseball and what is going to happen when the NFL Draft rolls around at the end of April.  Several teams need desperate help right now, so the Draft will provide some solutions to some very precarious positions that some teams have put themselves in.

The Draft is going to be loaded with players who have excellent skill levels.  The first round is most likely going to be one of the best ever.  The top of the draft is set up to where one of several players is going to be the number one pick, and you can pick and choose who that might be.  All of them are talented, and all of them are winners.

Right now, according to what the experts say, “It’s a toss up between four players.”  Starting with Glenn Dorsey, then moving on to Jake Long, Chris Long, and Matt Ryan, the heralded quarterback out of Boston College.

As of today, Dorsey is at the top of the draft board. Already, Glenn Dorsey mini-helmets are best-selling memorabilia. He is a ferocious defensive lineman who played his college ball at Louisiana State University.  With his team winning the National Championship in January, Dorsey was a force on the field in a variety of areas.  He is very quick for his size and he plays with the kind of attitude and drive that made Lawrence Taylor famous, and Lawrence Taylor helmets are a no-brainer investment for any NFL fan. Dorsey has the chance to make an impact immediately with any NFL team, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Miami Dolphins select him as their number one pick.

Bill Parcells, Miami’s Executive Vice President of Football Operations, always builds his teams around defense, so Dorsey makes perfect sense.  There is a chance that they could draft a quarterback, but statistics say it’s not a good idea when you had a season as bad as Miami’s was last year.  Look for the Dolphins to do one of the following: Sign and trade Dorsey, or sign him and build their new defense around him.

Jake Long is an absolute monster!  He was the anchor to the Michigan Wolverines offensive line for the last four years, so you know that he plays with gritty determination and guts.  Just ask Mike Hart, who has been running behind Long for his entire career.  Without Long, Hart is never going to be mentioned in Heisman conversations like he has been in the past.  Hart is a great running back, but Long is an even better lineman. Jake Long footballs are really popular with fans right now, and well worth investing in.

Long combines amazing size, strength and explosiveness.  Physically, Long is everything an offensive lineman should be— he has a big upper body and huge legs!  Long will have no trouble competing when he gets to the NFL.  Right now, Jake Long grades out to being just behind Chris Long on the draft board, but anything can happen as we get closer to the draft. Chris Long footballs are equally popular with collectors. By the fact that Long is so strong, I would not be surprised at all if the Rams take him with the second pick.  He is a star waiting to happen!

Chris Long is the son of the famous former defensive lineman Howie Long, formerly of the Oakland Raiders. Fans still clamor for Howie Long jerseys.  Like his father, Chris Long has the will to win and an incredible knack for consistently making his way to the quarterback.  He combines incredible strength with mental toughness and the ability to always know where the quarterback is.  Although he does not possess staggering speed, Long is a great “get to the ball” guy as well.

Regarded by many as one of the most dominant defensive players in college football entering his senior season, Long more than lived up to those expectations, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks to the tune of 14 sacks, 23 pressures, nine pass break-ups and an interception in 2007. He also caused a pair of fumbles on sacks that Virginia recovered, which the Cavaliers converted into points.  If this was any other year, Chris Long would have the chance to be the number one pick.  This year he just has too much competition.

If the Dolphins do decide to take a quarterback, it will be the aforementioned Matt Ryan.  Ryan was a vital cog in the Boston College machinery this year, and he finished the season as a first team NCAA All-American.  Ryan’s workout for the NFL scouts did nothing to deter from the fact that he could be the number one pick, however, the Falcons are looking at him quite closely, and he will probably end up in Atlanta as the third pick in the draft, as opposed to the first. I predict that Matt Ryan photos will be gracing a lot of walls.

Stock is rising for all four of these players.  Each one of them has a chance at a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract.  If you are looking for a player to invest in, then I would suggest all four.  Toss in Arkansas running back Darren McFadden memorabilia if you’re looking for another player who can bring a return on investment.  Like I said, the draft is rich in talent.  Do some research and you will see.  The year looks promising and I can’t wait for football season to start.  Until next time…