Enough with the Dolphins’ first pick; what about the second?

By Hugo Guzman  |   Sunday, April 20, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Miami Dolphins
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General manager Jeff Ireland’s recent “defensive pillar” comment has set the national media abuzz and propelled the Miami Dolphins' fan base into a frenzy regarding the team's first overall pick in this weekend's draft. For example, up-and-coming fan forum ThePhins.com has nearly a dozen threads devoted to the topic. However, the Dolphins’ second pick in the draft, No. 32 overall, might be just as compelling as their first.

Sure, it doesn’t come with the same amount of fanfare and media coverage, but the top pick of the second round provides a similar amount of intrigue and could play a major part in shaping the fortunes of the franchise for years to come.

Especially if the team decides to once again go after a quarterback.

Last year, it was John Beck. This year, it could be Chad Henne (Michigan) or Joe Flacco (Delaware). And while Bill Parcells and the remainder of Miami's brass say that they are very happy with Beck, a soon-to-be second-year quarterback out of BYU, don't put it past the Dolphins to invest in a position that is both the most important in football and one whose inconsistency has plagued the organization since the day Dan Marino retired.

Henne seems to be drawing a lot of attention as of late, with some pundits asserting that his skill set is on par with that of higher profile counterpart Matt Ryan, a surefire top-10 pick.

Even if the Dolphins don’t select a quarterback with that second pick, there are several other intriguing options. For example, if former Miami Hurricanes standout safety Kenny Phillips were to fall that far down, he could prove to be the steal of the draft, and could serve as that “defensive pillar” Ireland referred to in last week’s press conference.

The Dolphins might also have several tantalizing options to choose from at offensive tackle. After all, this draft has arguably a half-dozen or more legitimate starting prospects at the position. Some fans will be disappointed if Miami does not select OT Jake Long with the first choice, but the truth is that several of the supposed second-tier options who will be available at No. 32 could prove to be just as productive at the NFL level.

So while most Dolphins loyalists and media outlets will spend the next five days salivating over the possibilities at No. 1 overall, keep your eye out for that other top pick. It could prove to be just as monumental.
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About Hugo Guzman

Co-founder of RealFootball365.com. Born in Argentina, of Dominican descent, living in Hoboken, but from Miami through and ...
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