Dolphins' chronic question: to draft a QB or not

When the Dolphins summoned Tom Condon to their headquarters a couple of weeks ago to talk about the first overall pick in the draft, the veteran agent knew the talk would center on offensive lineman Jake Long but also figured the subject of Matt Ryan would enter the conversation at some prominent point.

Ryan, after all, is the consensus top-rated quarterback in this year's draft and the Dolphins have been on a decade-long but futile search for a franchise quarterback since Dan Marino began his decline in 1998.

And yet Ryan's name was spoken only as an afterthought. Condon left the team convinced Ryan would not be Miami's selection with the first overall pick.

Which begs the question: How come?

''We've answered that question right now,'' coach Tony Sparano said when quizzed about Miami's perennial quarterback search. ``We brought in Josh [McCown] so we have another quarterback on campus to compete with John [Beck]. That being said, it depends on where we are in the draft and what happens on draft day.

``If there's a guy that fits our needs, I'm sure that will come up. If not, we'll get into this thing with what we have and see where we are down the road.''

So much for that treasured first overall selection delivering to Miami the long-awaited franchise quarterback. But there is a possibility -- albeit slim -- the first pick and that franchise quarterback will still leave a mark on Miami's draft day strategy.

Although the chances of Miami trading out of the first pick remain extremely remote, they have improved in the last week because interest for Ryan has suddenly increased. Baltimore, Chicago, Carolina and Detroit have begun seriously considering trade-up options to get Ryan on draft day.

The most likely trade partner would be the Ravens because quarterback Steve McNair retired last week, turning Baltimore's quarterback need from pressing to red-alert urgent.

The Ravens, holders of the No. 8 pick in the draft, are calling around to gauge a possible trade-up scenario in order to land Ryan, according to NFL personnel sources. And while those inquiries have gone no higher than the third overall pick held by Atlanta, it is possible Baltimore may soon be checking on the availability of Miami's first overall pick.

Simply: If the Ravens become convinced Atlanta will pick Ryan at No. 3, they will have to decide if their interest in the player is substantial enough to get ahead of the Falcons for that pick or simply pick another quarterback later in the draft.

''I think the biggest obstacle for people trading up is what they have to give up to move up into that top five,'' Baltimore director of college scouting Eric DeCosta said. ``It's not easy to move up into the top five [or] to the top six without basically giving up the majority of your draft. If you have a board that you've spent basically 11 months getting yourself prepared for a draft and all of a sudden you want to give it up to get one player, or do you want to stay there and take the opportunity to take three or four players?

``So, I think the price of moving up is what keeps people from [being] willing to move up into that top five or the top six, because who wants to give up [so much]?''

Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome last week denied the Ravens were discussing the possibility of trading up because the team was ''still gathering information,'' and trying to set its board. But he would not deny that the Ravens would look at a trade-up scenario if the right player were available.

For the Ravens that player would have to be a quarterback.

For the Dolphins, the need to add a quarterback to lead the franchise is an ongoing search.

While McCown was one of the team's signature free-agent acquisitions and is expected to compete for the starting job, his résumé does not suggest he is the long-term answer to Miami's long-term quarterback problem.

McCown was cast aside in Arizona, Detroit and Oakland before coming to the Dolphins. Beck, in his second season, is like a stepson the Bill Parcells' regime adopted from Cam Cameron and Randy Mueller.

Beck completed 56.1 percent of his passes his rookie season, throwing one touchdown and three interceptions and fumbling a troubling seven times. And while he also will be given the opportunity to compete for the starting job, there is no one within the Miami organization who has given him any assurances about his future -- at least not publicly.

''We haven't played any games since I got here, so I haven't really seen these guys,'' general manager Jeff Ireland said last week. ``The bullets haven't been flying. We brought in a good veteran to compete for the job. They drafted a kid last year, Beck, whom I've seen throw. He's thrown close to 4,000 balls here with [quarterbacks coach] David Lee.

``[Lee] has done a nice job of trying to develop this kid. There is a comfort level there, but anything can happen in the draft.''

If anything is to happen for the Dolphins at the quarterback position, it probably will be later in the draft. While pundits such as ESPN's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have sung the praises of players such as Delaware's Joe Flacco and Michigan's Chad Henne, the Dolphins are more likely to add a quarterback later in the process than in the second round.

Bill Parcells, who is running the Dolphins football organization, might be willing to fill out other positions on the roster before using higher picks on a quarterback that likely will not play for several years.

In Dallas, he suffered starting quarterbacks such as Quincy Carter declining veterans Vinny Testaverde and Drew Bledsoe while he molded a little-known youngster named Tony Romo.

For that reason, a player such as San Diego's Josh Johnson seems a possible fit for Miami on the second day. Johnson apparently has to grow into the position both physically and mentally, but his athletic prowess is unquestioned.

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