Five Four years ago, the Dolphins opted for a left tackle over a franchise quarterback, taking Jake Long instead of Matt Ryan with the first pick in the draft. With the Dolphins using a first-round pick in 2012 on the player they hope will become the team’s next franchise quarterback, the Dolphins also may have acquired their next cornerstone left tackle.
Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel believes that the arrival of Jonathan Martin via round two could eventually mean the end of the line for Long.
Martin played sparingly at right tackle during his college career, and if the Dolphins decide to move on from Long, Martin could take over on the left side.
As Berardino explains it, with the Dolphins admittedly transforming their approach, Long may not fit in the new-look offense. “We’re not going to be as much a power scheme as we’ve been in the past,” G.M. Jeff Ireland said when discussing the decision to take Martin. “So his athletic ability and . . . quickness and ability to play in space transfers to this scheme probably a lot better than any other scheme.”
Long is due to receive a base salary $11.2 million in 2012. Long recently proclaimed that he’s the healthiest he has been in a long time.