If you've been visiting this site for a while, then you certainly remember some of the heated debates we had around here about Matt Ryan and whether or not he should be Miami's pick at #1.  As the draft approached, I know I made it clear that I was hoping for one of the two Longs - Jake or Chris.  So I was, and still am, very happy with the choice that the Dolphins made, making Jake Long the #1 overall pick last April.

But Matt Ryan's recent success has made some fans begin to re-think the idea that Jake Long was the right pick.  Perhaps it would have been better for the Fins to take Matt Ryan.  These fans would tell you that as a starter from day one in Atlanta, Ryan has led his team to a 4-2 record and is on pace for 3,104 yards passing while throwing 5 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions - a very good ratio for a rookie QB.

But I'm not buying it - and neither, apparently, are the Dolphins.  Instead, they passed on Ryan and selected a franchise LT.  By the way, they also think they've found a franchise QB as well.  Dolphins offensive coordinator Dan Henning had this to say to the media:

"We think Chad Henne can play just as well as [Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco] can. I'll tell you that right now. I think when he gets his opportunity he will play well. Every time we've given him an opportunity, he has played well. We also like Chad Pennington. So I think the quarterback situation here as it stands right now is better than it was Feb. 1st. I'll tell you that right now."

Who am I to argue with that?  I'm convinced.

But seriously, there's no reason not to think Henne will be at least as good as Matt Ryan has been.  In his only real regular season action, Henne went 7 for 12 for 67 yards, leading a drive for a touchdown.  And on that drive, Henne made some very nice throws into a couple of tight spots. 

In my opinion, I do not have any regrets on what the Dolphins did on draft day in terms of their first 3 picks.

But since this is a democracy, I'll ask you guys to tell me if the Dolphins made the right decision to pass on Matt Ryan in favor of Jake Long and then take Chad Henne in round 2.

Incase you missed it, the Falcons yesterday reached an agreement with the 3rd overall pick in the draft, Matt Ryan.  And the deal is ridiculous.  It's a 6 year, $72 million deal that includes $34.75 million in guaranteed money.  Yes, that's right.  Matt Ryan is getting $72 million from the Falcons as the #3 overall pick. 

And we wonder why the owners opted out of the current CBA. 

Consider this.  Last season's #1 overall pick, JaMarcus Russell, signed a 6 year, $61 million deal which included $29 million in guarantees (that could increase up to $32 million).  And he had to hold out until September 10 to get that deal.  Matt Ryan, on the other hand, gets a deal that is worth $11 million more in total value and $5 million kore in guaranteed money less than 4 weeks after he was drafted 3rd overall.  Not first.  Third.

Wow.

OK.  Let me take a deep breath before continuing.

Alright.  The point of this post, though, is not to just talk about how amazed I am about this deal the Falcons just handed Ryan.  I think we all need to take a step back for a moment and just talk about what an amazing job Miami's front office did reaching the deal that they did with Jake Long.  Long's deal of 5 years, $57.75 million, which includes $30 million in guaranteed money looks like a steal right now.  Well, relatively speaking, of course.  Remember, Long instantly became the highest paid offensive lineman in the league despite not ever having played a single down. 

Now we don't know exactly how Long's or Ryan's contract breaks down.  However, if you break down the deals to basic yearly averages, the Dolphins did a hell of a job with their deal for Jake.

So as you can see, the Dolphins are paying the #1 overall pick less money per year than the Falcons are paying the #3 overall pick.  Yes, the Dolphins had to guarantee a little bit more, but that's well worth the long-term benefit that the Dolphins achieved.

Of course, the one downside here is that Long will hit the open market a year earlier.  So let's just hope Jake comes in and excels right from the beginning, meaning the Dolphins would lock him up to a long-term deal before he ever sniffs free agency.

Kudos to the Dolphins' front office!