NFL Draft | Miami signs tackle Jake Long before draft day

DAVIE, Fla. — So much for draft-day drama.

The Miami Dolphins are off the clock after signing Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long on Tuesday, making him the No. 1 pick of the NFL draft Saturday. The early signing ended weeks of speculation involving the Dolphins' pick, which draft pundits felt would come down to Long, Virginia defensive end Chris Long or perhaps Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston.

"Jake was our guy from the beginning," said Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland, who attended a news conference with Long; Miami coach Tony Sparano; agent Tom Condon; and Long's parents, Denise and John. "I don't make it a habit of telling you what's on our board, but Jake Long was on the top of our board for a long time. ... There wasn't a whole lot of debate.

"We all kind of felt comfortable with the player. We think he's the best tackle in the draft."

The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Long, who gave up a mere three sacks while committing two penalties in four seasons at Michigan, seemed relieved the five-year deal, worth $57.75 million with $30 million guaranteed, was completed so quickly.

"I just have to worry about getting in here, playing, making myself better, learning and getting prepared for the NFL," said Long, wearing a Dolphins cap. "I don't think it has sunk in yet. It is something every kid dreams about."

Condon said of his prime prospects — Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, Gholston and Long — he and Miami only discussed Long.

"It was a very straightforward negotiation," Condon said. "They didn't leverage us with other players, and we didn't tell them we wanted to be on a different team."

Last year's first player drafted, Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell, received a six-year contract worth up to $68 million, with $31.5 million guaranteed, from the Oakland Raiders.

Russell held out through training camp and didn't sign with the Raiders until after they had played a regular-season game.

Sparano was pleased to get the deal done so as to avoid a protracted holdout such as Russell's or the one the Dolphins endured with Auburn running back Ronnie Brown, the No. 2 pick, in 2005.

Ireland felt it was "absolutely an advantage," because he can plot trades and concentrate on his remaining eight picks.

Despite repeated comments from NFL Network pundit Mike Mayock saying Long is more suited to play the right side because of a lack of speed, Sparano put that to rest.

"Left tackle is our need, and that's where he's going to play for us," Sparano said of Long. "He's very tough. He's smart. He's disciplined. Those are the people we want to surround ourselves [with]."

Incumbent left tackle Vernon Carey, the last offensive lineman drafted by the Dolphins in the first round (19th in 2004), will shift to right tackle, where he played his first three seasons.

Long, 22, will be the third offensive tackle taken with the first pick, joining Orlando Pace of Ohio State (1997, by St. Louis) and Hall of Famer Ron Yary of USC (1968, by Minnesota).

The St. Louis Rams own the second pick in the first round.