Rafael Vela: Thanks, Bill

[Cbz40]

Thanks, Bill


By Rafael Vela

Miami is on the clock. A few weeks after I urged, no begged Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland to pick a player they seem to be inching in that direction. The Miami Herald and NFL.com both reported today that the Dolphins have been negotiating with Tom Condon, the agent for Jake Long.


This does not mean that Long will be the Dolphins pick but the odds are much stronger that he will be. One report says the Dolphins could also begin talks with Chris Long’s and Glenn Dorsey’s agents. If so, Miami is playing a tricky game, but one that could benefit all of us draftniks.


Put yourself in Chris Long’s and Dorsey’s positions. Let’s say the Dolphins contact your agent in the next few days. He’s in a difficult position. On the one hand, he’s obligated to get you the best possible deal. On the other hand, the Dolphins hold incredible leverage; if you play too hard the Dolphins could move to one of the other two players. And the difference between the first player’s signing bonus and the second or third player’s bonus is huge.


Since teams slot their picks according to draft position, all the agents will be hoping that whichever player the Dolphins picks gets a deal as close to last year’s top contract. Otherwise the market could be depressed a bit.
On the other hand, the teams will be hoping the Dolphins could get a good deal for the same reason.


For draftniks, the hope is that Miami can hammer out a deal this week. That would put the Rams on the clock and give them a chance to work out a deal as well. It’s rare but years ago this process worked out and several players were signed before the draft began.


I’m hoping this scenario occurs again. We all know that there’s a top tier of players that will go between one and six. In that span, barring some major surprise both Longs, Dorsey, Darren McFadden, Vernon Gholston and Matt Ryan will be selected. The real intrigue should begin around pick seven, when the Patriots are slotted.


There’s a chance the first hour could go quickly, with signed players taking the stand and the rest of the teams getting down to business.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Not going to happen.

If Miami gets a player signed before the draft, they will still use the entirety of the clock before announcing the decision.

Its free marketing for the team. While they are on the clock, the mediots talk about them, and they get free press.

 

[sbark]

I imagine, if BP and the Phins would get a player inked prior to the draft---at what is perceived a very Cap Friendly contract.........heck the trade value would then go up..........but it gets complicated

Its almost like no one even wants the 1st 2 or 3 slots because of the contract requirements.......

didnt Jimmy J. and Jerry sign Russel Maryland to a perceived cap friendly contract prior to the draft..........i know they were after the "Rocket", but when he went to Canada....they went w/ a known commodity

I dont know if they "rolled back" the #1 slot contract level or not, but i'm pretty sure it was a decent contract for a #1 draft slot in its day

 

[big dog cowboy]

There’s a chance the first hour could go quickly, with signed players taking the stand and the rest of the teams getting down to business.

Good. With the starting time of the draft getting pushed back this year, we have a long enough wait as it is. Anything we can do to speed up the process is something I am all for.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

With all this DMac talk, it would be interesting if he was signed before the draft even began.....definitely would have an effect on any trade.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I'm still not counting out the Fins from taking Matt Ryan. If either of the Longs or Gholston want $30 million guaranteed, which is quite plausible, then the Fins might as well spend that money on a possible franchise QB. If they don't, then Parcells must really not like what Ryan has to offer.



YAKUZA

 

[Chuck 54]

Look what happened in Cleveland last season. A relatively unknown QB took charge and led them to a surprisingly competitive season...a large part of the credit went to the rookie LT who came in and played like a stud all year, truly solidifying their previously pourous OL.

I think drafting the same way in Miami with a high 2nd round selection at QB from last year's draft is probably a smart way to go because their OL could go from "duh" to "hmmm" with the addition of another top rookie to go with last year's first selection...building a good OL helps every RB, QB, and WR step up their games.

 

[Longboysfan]

Most agents work at a snails pace.
As long as the top prospects have different agents the Dolphins are in good shape.
Play one against the other.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

DMAC is going to Mr. Jones

 

[Apollo Creed]

If Matt Ryan was in last year's draft he would've been a 2nd rounder. I'm not that impressed, and I seriously doubt BP would want to pay a 'bus driver' like Ryan 1st pick money.

 

[lkelly]

How can teams actually get a signed contract with a player before he's drafted? They can agree to terms, but the player isn't an employee of the team until he's drafted. And this business about several players inking deals before the draft - can someone cite a credible source for that? What motivation would a team have to do that when they can still trade their pick. Should a late minute offer come in you'd want that flexibility.

 

[adamknite]

How can teams actually get a signed contract with a player before he's drafted? They can agree to terms, but the player isn't an employee of the team until he's drafted. And this business about several players inking deals before the draft - can someone cite a credible source for that? What motivation would a team have to do that when they can still trade their pick. Should a late minute offer come in you'd want that flexibility.

Yes, it's because Miami has the first pick, they can sign him to a contract because there is nobody in front of them. If Miami signs a player, then St Louis can begin negotiating with players, because then there won't be anybody before them.

Drafting a player doesn't mean you sign them, it means you pickup their rights, making you the only team who can negotiate a contract with them. That's why the team with the highest pick can sign somebody before the draft, when the draft comes around and they've already signed their player, the draft and reading of the players name is just a technicality.

Drafting a player doesn't make them a member of you franchise, it only says "We own the rights to negotiate a contract with this player"

 

[Bob Sacamano]

If Matt Ryan was in last year's draft he would've been a 2nd rounder. I'm not that impressed, and I seriously doubt BP would want to pay a 'bus driver' like Ryan 1st pick money.

agreed, Ryan reeks of Alex Smith or Joey Harrington

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Look what happened in Cleveland last season. A relatively unknown QB took charge and led them to a surprisingly competitive season...a large part of the credit went to the rookie LT who came in and played like a stud all year, truly solidifying their previously pourous OL.

I think drafting the same way in Miami with a high 2nd round selection at QB from last year's draft is probably a smart way to go because their OL could go from "duh" to "hmmm" with the addition of another top rookie to go with last year's first selection...building a good OL helps every RB, QB, and WR step up their games.

I have thought for some time that Ryan was never really an option for them. BP is not a guy who historically takes QBs high. He drafted one but that one was rated as an exceptional prospect, even for a QB. How much did BP like him, well, he kept him around and actually playing till the guy was like a hundred. Would not be surprised if he ends up showing up at Miami down the line if BP doesn't like his QBs. I'd say BP liked him a great deal. I don't see that with Ryan. Ryan is a good QB prospect and I would not doubt he becomes a solid QB in the NFL. However, he is not an elite prospect. His arm is very average IMO. To me, he does not grade out as a 1# over all prospect.

The three guys I believe they are considering are Jake Long, Chris Long and Gholston. All three of these guys probably rate much higher. I think the fact that Condon is Jake Longs agent also says something. As many of you know, Condon and BP have worked well together in the past. Jake Long is exactly the kind of player BP likes. The guy has never had a penalty called on him in College. What pisses BP off more then anything? Stupid plays that create negative yards. His big thing is hidden yardage. They kill drives and BP hates that. I could see Jake Long being the guy.

Gholston is simply a freak athlete that BP would view as his prototypical OLB in a 34. I mean, if you think about what BP has in Miami, that team may get real good, real fast. There is a lot of talk about moving Jason Taylor in trade but if you add Taylor and Gholston to that 34, that's going to be a real strong OLB pass rushing combination. They also have Joey Porter and Channing Crowder. That's a pretty good ILB LB crew, as well. They have Keith Traylor and Paul Soliai who are going to fit perfectly into the style of play BP likes to us with his NTs. They have Matt Roth, who could also probably play OLB in a 34, Vonnie Holiday and Rodrique Wright who fit very well as DE in a 34. I mean, if you look at that front seven, they are pretty strong IMO. Good mix of youth and experience. Gholston would definatly be a guy who could really finish that defense off in the front seven. If they did elect to trade Taylor, then I could see them taking Gholston and playing him at WOLB and using Roth at SOLB as well. He could make a lot of sense for Miami.

Chris Long is the player who is probably least valued, of the three but probably most appealing to BP. His position would probably be DE in that unit. If they kept Taylor and matched him with Roth at OLB, then you could play Wright and Long and Randy Starks at DE with Traylor, Ferguson and Sali at NT in a rotation. Still a very good front 7. Long is the kind of player that BP likes. Talented and a none stop motor. I don't think he is the guy that gets taken here but if BP could somehow figure out a way to move down, I think Long would be a Fin. JMO.

They loaded up on DBs. They still have Allen and they signed Crocker, Killer, Nate Jones, to go with Jason Allen and the rest of the DBs.

They signed Wilford at WR, to go with Marty Booker and Ginn. They also picked up Sean Ryan at TE.

To be honest, the more I look at what they have, the more I think that it will be Jake Long if they stay at #1. There OL consists of Vernan Carey at LT, LJ Shelton at RT( who is gone I think), Satali at C (who is probably going to be a good one), Hadnot and Liwenski, both Guards are gone. They signed Smiley who will play Guard, and thats pretty much it. They absolutly have to have more OLs. They have to replace RT. Now, that could be Carey if they took Long and he could play LT or it could just be Long at RT. They only have a total of 7 OLs on the roster right now. They are missing 3 starters and zero depth. I gotta believe that BP is frantic to figure out how to trade down. They might just take less then expected for that #1 pick. They have to aquire three starters on the OL. They have to find a TE and they will get one in this draft. They probably need another starting CB as well. This team is not far off but I do believe that they could seriously be interested in trading down.

OL and CB is there real need. QB might be but they have Beck and they also have Matt Baker as development guys. McCown could just be there starter. Baker knows the system and I still believe that Beck is going to be a pretty good player in the NFL. He is exactly the kind of QB prospect BP would choose to bring along IMO.

Albert is actually the perfect pick for them but they need to trade down. If I were going to trade with Miami, I think I might try to work out a trade for some of our OLs or maybe Henry. If we do sign Jones at CB and Ball is progressing as is rumored, then I might try to make a deal with Henry and some of our OLs. That would make a lot of sense for both teams if things work out with Jones. We could draft a good young CB and probably still be fine at DB.

If they don't trade out of #1, I think it's got to be Jake Long.

 

[lkelly]

Yes, it's because Miami has the first pick, they can sign him to a contract because there is nobody in front of them. If Miami signs a player, then St Louis can begin negotiating with players, because then there won't be anybody before them.

Drafting a player doesn't mean you sign them, it means you pickup their rights, making you the only team who can negotiate a contract with them. That's why the team with the highest pick can sign somebody before the draft, when the draft comes around and they've already signed their player, the draft and reading of the players name is just a technicality.

Drafting a player doesn't make them a member of you franchise, it only says "We own the rights to negotiate a contract with this player"

OK, so the player has actually signed the contract with the team pre-draft? Not "agreed to terms?"

And if the team first on the clock who has "signed" their player the week before doesn't pick in the 10 minute time period? What happens? The next team gets to pick from the remaining pool?

I'd still like to see evidence of multiple players actually signing contracts with teams before the draft. In what draft did this go down?

 

[Thomas82]

How can teams actually get a signed contract with a player before he's drafted? They can agree to terms, but the player isn't an employee of the team until he's drafted. And this business about several players inking deals before the draft - can someone cite a credible source for that? What motivation would a team have to do that when they can still trade their pick. Should a late minute offer come in you'd want that flexibility.

The best example I can think of is Carson Palmer, he signed his contract before the Bengals drafted him.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

The best example I can think of is Carson Palmer, he signed his contract before the Bengals drafted him.

alot of #1 overall picks agree to a contract before they're taken, it's easier to get them into camp and learning the system to speed up the process that way