Oh, what a stunning development. Another report involving Jason Taylor's alleged desire to get out of Miami. What you're thinking, with news circulating that the Dolphins are near an agreement with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long to make him the No. 1 pick Saturday in the NFL Draft, is that Taylor isn't going anywhere. Don't be so sure. The speculation regarding Taylor won't end until he is traded, creates a Dancing With the Stars spinoff show, signs a movie contract to become the next action hero - a black James Bond, maybe? - or shows up at Dolphins camp ready to prepare for another season. Who knows what the man wants to make of the time remaining in his football career before an anticipated Hollywood star turn? Taylor himself might not have a truthful answer for that one at this very moment. The simple answer is that, yes, the Dolphins absolutely should trade the still-formidable Taylor if in exchange they can procure a first-round pick (this year or in the near future) or multiple lower-round picks (a second and third, for example). A 34-year-old defensive end - which is what Taylor will be when the season starts - carrying a $7.5 million salary isn't what new Miami football boss Bill Parcells wants most. The Dolphins apparently have decided they need help on the offensive line more than anywhere else, and it's difficult to argue otherwise. Never mind that my guess, long before General Manager Jeff Ireland inadvertently dropped his broad "pillar" hint Thursday, has been that Miami would use the top pick on Virginia defensive end/linebacker Chris Long. Now? Well, now my guess is that the Dolphins will test the lower levels of the first round to see if there's a buyer for Taylor ... and make the deal if they find one knowing there's a defensive end they like - Clemson's Phillip Merling? - still available. None of it is sexy. But all of it is functional. And the Dolphins need functional. Nobody has to see Miami's draft board to know what it looks like. If, for example, there's a category entitled ëNeed' somewhere on the technicolor-coordinated chart - these grown-up boys still like their kindergarten toys - the Dolphins surely have filled in the space thusly: Everywhere With that in mind, Jake Long provides the escape-hatch option of moving him to guard if he doesn't work out at tackle. And if the Dolphins could deal Taylor and grab another first-round pick to bring youth to the defensive line, it might increase the chance of Miami looking for a quarterback in the second round, in which it holds two picks. Quarterback? Quarterback! Now, that's sexy. Especially with John Beck and Josh McCown as the alternatives. Boston College's Matt Ryan is too big a risk at the No. 1 overall slot. Maybe he turns out to be a Peyton Manning, but maybe he turns out to be a Ryan Leaf ... and cupboard-bare Miami can't afford that kind of gamble. It's worth remembering, too, how New England quarterback Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick out of Michigan once upon a time. The Dolphins, in fact, might be able to grab a Michigan quarterback in this year's second round in Chad Henne, though Delaware's Joe Flacco and Louisville's Brian Brohm might be possibilities. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphi...21/0421stoda.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=46
I have a question ... would you be willing to trade JT & one of our 2nd round picks for a chance to move up and grab someone like Derrick Harvey in the middle of the 1st round? Or perhaps JT & a 4th to move up a couple of spots and grab Groves? If he really wants out and we really covet one of those two guys as his replacement ... I think I'd be willing to peddle #57 off to get him ... Harvey in particular. I am not sure Harvey will make it past Detriot ... so it could cost #32 to move up high enough to get there with the Bears or Panthers ... I agree with something I read yesterday that if we do take Jake #1 ... there will be a quick run on offensive lineman at the top of the 1st round which could push both DE's into range for a trade up perhaps even with Dallas at #22
I think even though we took Jake at #1, we still need to look into the possibilities about trading JT. Im not saying we MUST trade him, but I think we at least need to look at what opportunities are out there for us to move him, and get compensation. If we can get a second and a 4th (Id even consider a 5th) then I say we have to do it. We would have 3 2nd round picks, we could get a replacement for JT, maybe another O-lineman or an LB, and possibly a QB too if we are looking for one... of course we still need a DB, a WR, and a TE. So... the need is definately there for extra draft picks. Bottom line... is we at least need to see what kind of options we have with him.
i think the fins need to look into a trade, this draft is very deep and it is a perfect place to start rebuilding and the more picks the fins can get the better
I thought for sure if we picked Chris Long or any other defensive player with the first pick, JT would be shopped, but with Jake Long being signed, I think we need to keep JT here as long as possible.
We could do that but honestly, I rather stick to keeping draft picks instead of giving away and maybe taking a physical specimen like Kendal Langford.
