Who’s Number One?
I read an interesting article the other day that was speculating about what the Miami Dolphins might do with their number one pick in the upcoming NFL draft. The article suggest that they might just pass. As in, not make a pick. Interesting thought, I thought. 
You see there really isn’t (by most opinions) a clear number one pick in the draft this year. There are several fairly obvious top ten picks (including LSU lineman Dorsey) but nobody that is a consensus number one draft pick. As a result of that, the Dolphins might find it hard to trade the pick. And if they pick number one overall there are certain expectations as to the pay scale for whoever they pick.
One comment made on ESPN Radio said that the difference in pay between the number one and number four pick last year was about $15 million. That would pay Bill Parcel’s salary for a few years at least, wouldn’t it? 
So the suggestion was this: when it’s time for the Dolphins to pick, they just pass. As in, no pick. That doesn’t mean that they give up their pick; they have the right to jump back in at any time they want and interject their pick in front of someone else. But by sliding out of the top spot the pressure (both in expectations and at the bank) that goes with the overall number one pick is gone.
I’ve seen this discussed on other blogs, and in many cases the folks that comment are very much against it. I don’t see why… the idea makes sense to me. If the Dolphins don’t want the top pick and can’t trade it, why not let it slide? It’s in the rules, it’s legal, and frankly I think it makes sense. If they feel like they can benefit from any of the top five players on the board, go ahead and let someone else take on the financial burden of writing a contract to the number one pick and go with number four or five instead.