Miami Dolphins
Isn't it funny how much can change in a year? Eleven months ago, we were talking about what The Tuna (Bill Parcells, first year VP of Football Operations for the Dolphins) would do with the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. In one season, the 1-15 'Fins go from flirting with disaster (which status the Detroit Lions now hold with distinction) to a division title. Much of that success has to do with big 6'7" Jake Long, the #1 overall pick in last year's draft, and how well he played as a rookie. Veteran QB Chad Pennington is lucky to have such a quality young lineman keeping him clean, and probably owes his second AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year award to Long for doing such a good job protecting his blind side. After the season ended, the rookie left tackle was added to the Pro Bowl roster as a replacement for the Bills' Jason Peters.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons had similar good fortune in the first round of the 2008 Draft. Picking third overall, they selected the 2007 ACC Player of the Year Matt Ryan, two-year starting QB out of Boston College. If anyone had any doubts about his abilities, it wasn't first-year head coach Mike Smith, who named Ryan the starting quarterback before the season opener. And most - if not all - doubts that the downtrodden fans of the Falcons had disappeared pretty quickly as they watched the rookie complete his first NFL pass attempt to Michael Jenkins for a 62 yard touchdown. Ryan led the Falcons to an 11-5 season and a playoff appearance, and would be named the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The future looks good for the Atlanta Falcons with the steady and productive Matt Ryan taking the snaps.
Baltimore Ravens
Another rookie QB sensation from last year was Joe Flacco, three-year starter from Delaware. Selected 18th overall by the Ravens, the kid nicknamed "Joe Cool" wound up being thrown into the starting lineup for the season opener after an injury ended veteran Kyle Boller's season and illness stopped the former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith from practicing. Even though his numbers weren't spectacular, Flacco had a solid rookie campaign, leading the Ravens to 11 wins and a playoff berth. He didn't disappoint in the postseason, becoming the first ever rookie quarterback to win his first playoff game on the road, as the Ravens downed the Dolphins 27-9. Flacco followed that game up with another road playoff win against the 13-3 Tennessee Titans, before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship. Even though the rookie had some bad games, his overall performance was enough to earn him the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year Award. The Ravens finally feel like they are set at quarterback.
New England Patriots
The Patriots Bill Belichick has a reputation of being one of the best drafters in the NFL. His first round pick in 2008 would only add to that reputation. With the 10th pick in the first round (which the Patriots fortuitously acquired in an earlier trade with the 49ers), Tennessee's Jerod Mayo was chosen to play inside linebacker in Belichick's hybrid defense. The former All-SEC selection proved to be a perfect fit, and after starting all 16 games, was named the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. With 128 total tackles (including a season-high 20 - 16 solo - in a Week 11 loss to the NY Jets), Mayo proved to be worth his weight in gold, and the Patriots earned another high grade in the first round.
Who do you think had the best first round last year?
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