New York, NY (Best E Casino) - Thanks to the work done in advance by the Miami Dolphins, the opening hour of the 2008 NFL Draft provided little drama. As expected, Miami selected former University of Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long with the first pick in Saturday's draft, merely formalizing what had been a foregone conclusion for the better part of a week before things got interesting with the following four selections.

Miami agreed to a multi-year contract with Long earlier this week, announcing its intentions to take him first overall during a press conference Tuesday. Long, a 6-foot-7, 315-pounder who was a starter during all four of his seasons with the Wolverines, is the first offensive tackle taken No. 1 since the Rams pegged Ohio State's Orlando Pace with the first overall pick in 1997.

A two-time All-American, Long is the first pick for the Dolphins in the Bill Parcells era. Parcells, the former Giants, Patriots, Jets and Cowboys coach, was hired as executive vice president of football operations for Miami in December, and cleaned house, firing general manager Randy Mueller and head coach Cam Cameron within his first month on the job.

Parcells hired former Cowboys vice president of college and pro scouting Jeff Ireland to be GM, and former Cowboys assistant coach Tony Sparano to be head coach. The Dolphins are coming off a 1-15 campaign in 2007, and have not reached the playoffs since the 2001 season.

Having known Miami's move since mid-week, the St. Louis Rams were effectively the first team on the clock, and word leaked prior to the draft's 3:00 p.m. (et) start that Virginia defensive end Chris Long was their selection.

Long, the son of Hall of Fame defensive lineman Howie Long, was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in Charlottesville, totaling 79 tackles and 14 sacks. The 6-foot-4, 280-pounder is projected as a versatile prospect with the ability to play linebacker as well as along the line.

"I knew the Rams were interested in me but as you get closer, crazy things happen," Long said. "Everybody that was in New York said the Rams were interested in all six of us. In the end it comes down to needs and the way it falls in the building. Luckily enough, I'm so appreciative of the fact that I had enough guys who wanted me to be in St. Louis."

The Rams are coming off a dreadful 3-13 campaign that saw their defense allow opponents better than 340 yards per game, and Long will be expected to fortify a defensive line anchored by aging veterans Leonard Little and LaRoi Glover.

Atlanta held the third overall pick, and with the uncertainty of Michael Vick's return undoubtedly influencing its decision-making process, selected the consensus top quarterback available in Boston College's Matt Ryan.

Ryan passed for more than 4,500 yards and tossed 31 touchdowns during his senior season in Chestnut Hill, and saw his draft stock soar during the months leading up to the draft. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander will likely be given every opportunity to earn the Falcons' starting role, as Atlanta rebuilds following a tumultuous 3-13 season that included not only the continuing Vick legal saga, but the mid-season departure of former head coach Bobby Petrino.

Oakland seized arguably the most talented player available with the fourth pick, taking Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. McFadden was a two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up during his three seasons with the Razorbacks, accumulating more than 2,300 all-purpose yards while accounting for 17 touchdowns. Questions arose in the weeks leading up to the draft about McFadden's character because of a variety of off-field issues. Regardless, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Little Rock native should provide the Raiders, 4-12 in 2007, with an explosive offensive weapon.

"It's been a whirlwind," McFadden said. "You don't know where you're going to go, sitting back and just waiting. And then you finally get (Raiders coach) Lane (Kiffin) calling you. You finally get the phone call of where you're going to go, and you're so happy."

Kansas City rounded out the top five by selecting defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey of the National Champion LSU Tigers. The 6-foot-2, 303-pounder from Gonzales, Louisiana was the 2007 Outland Trophy Winner, and seems an appropriate fit for a team that just this week traded its best defensive lineman in Jared Allen.

"I don't look at as I fell to the Chiefs," Dorsey said. "Each team had what they wanted to do and I didn't come in with any expectations. What picked me I was going to be excited."

Picking sixth, the New York Jets bolstered their pass rush with Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston. The 6-foot-4, 258-pound Gholston racked up 22.5 sacks in 34 career games with the Buckeyes. In 2007, Gholston finished second in the nation with 14 sacks and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award as Ohio State made its second straight National Championship Game appearance.

New Orleans made the first major move of the draft, pulling off a trade with the New England Patriots to grab the seventh pick and a fifth-round pick in exchange for the 10th overall pick and the Saints' third-round selection. Looking to add to their defensive front, the Saints grabbed USC tackle Sedrick Ellis, the fourth defensive lineman to go in the first seven picks. Ellis, a 6-foot-1, 305-pounder was the Pac-10 Defensive Player in 2007 after notching 8.5 sacks for the Trojans.

Immediately afterwards, the Jacksonville Jaguars made an even bigger splash, hopping up 18 spots to the eighth pick, held by the Ravens, by giving up the 26th overall pick, two third-round picks (71 and 89 overall) and a fourth- round selection.

The Jags continued the run on defensive linemen, adding defensive end Derrick Harvey of Florida. The Greenbelt, Maryland native recorded 8.5 sacks in his junior year in Gainesville, but the 6-foot-5, 252-pounder's best performance came in the 2007 BCS National Championship game, where he earned MVP honors in leading the Gators in a lopsided win over Ohio State.

In the ninth slot, the Cincinnati Bengals went with the sixth defensive player in the top nine, USC linebacker Keith Rivers. Generally considered the top linebacker in the draft, Rivers made 78 tackles and started 11 games for the Trojans in 2007 despite suffering an offseason ankle injury.

After moving back to 10th, New England provided an injection of youth to its aging corps of linebackers with Jerrod Mayo of Tennessee. The 6-foot-1, 242- pounder was one of the most versatile linebackers in the draft, and could fit into any slot in the AFC champions' complex defensive scheme. He played at middle linebacker for the Vols in 2007 and was an All-American selection after piling up 140 tackles and 8.5 tackles for a loss.

Buffalo made it seven straight selections on the defensive side, but went to the defensive backfield by taking Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin with the 11th pick. Denver finally brought offense back into the draft with Boise State tackle Ryan Clady, while hard-running Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart went to the Carolina Panthers with the 13th pick. Chicago continued the mad rush for offensive linemen at 14 with Vanderbilt tackle Chris Williams, while the Chiefs traded up two spots with the Detroit Lions and rounded out the top 15 with another offensive lineman, Virginia's Branden Albert.

Arizona strengthened its secondary at pick No. 16, taking speedy Tennessee State corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, before the Lions went back to the offensive line with BC tackle Gosder Cherilus. After trading down to No. 26, the Ravens made a deal with Houston to move back up to the 18th pick to take their quarterback of choice, Delaware's Joe Flacco. Carolina parted with three picks, including a 2009 first-rounder, to acquire the 19th pick from Philadelphia and take the man to pave the road for Stewart, Pittsburgh tackle Jeff Otah. Tampa Bay finished off the first 20 picks with an addition to an already strong secondary, Kansas corner Aqib Talib.

Atlanta traded back into the first round at No. 21, dealing with the Redskins to pick up USC offensive tackle Sam Baker. After that came a flurry for running backs, as the Cowboys took McFadden's speedy backfield mate from Arkansas, Felix Jones, Pittsburgh augmented Willie Parker with Illinois standout Rashard Mendenhall and Tennessee surprised many with the selection of East Carolina's Chris Johnson -- who ran a 4.24 second 40-yard dash at the combine -- with the 24th pick. Dallas, which had owned the 28th pick, hopped back up to No. 25 after a trade with Seattle and grabbed South Florida corner Mike Jenkins.

After trading down, Houston fortified its offensive line at pick No. 26 with 315-pound Virginia Tech tackle Duane Brown. The Chargers added depth in the secondary with Arizona corner Antoine Cason, while the Seahawks and 49ers each went to the defensive line, with Seattle scooping up USC end Lawrence Jackson and San Francisco drafting North Carolina tackle Kentwan Balmer. The Jets traded back into the first round by dealing a second- and fourth-round pick to Green Bay, and grabbed Purdue tight end Dustin Keller. The Super Bowl champion New York Giants capped off the first round, making up for the loss of safety Gibril Wilson with Miami-Florida standout Kenny Phillips.

The new 10 minute time limit for picks led to a rapid first round that clocked in at just over 3 1/2 hours, despite frantic action that resulted in eight trades. The first round was the fastest since 1990, and was nearly three hours shorter than the 2007 first round, which was the longest in history.

The offensive and defensive lines dominated the selections, with eight offensive linemen and seven defensive linemen being taken in the opening round. However, not a single wide receiver was selected in the first round. USC led all schools with four players taken, while BC, Arkansas and Virginia had two players selected apiece.

Round Two highlights included the first wide receiver taken, Donnie Avery from Houston, going to St. Louis with the 33rd overall pick. Philadelphia, which had traded down twice, made a pair of selections with Notre Dame defensive tackle Trevor Laws and California receiver/returner DeSean Jackson. Washington added a trio of weapons to its receiving corps, adding wideouts Devin Thomas of Michigan State and Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma along with USC tight end Fred Davis.

The shock of the second round came when Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm went to the Green Bay Packers in the 56th slot. With the retirement of Brett Favre, former first-round pick Aaron Rodgers was tabbed as the heir apparent, but Brohm, one of the most decorated passers in Big East conference history, gives the Packers a young insurance policy. Michigan quarterback Chad Henne went to the Miami Dolphins with the next pick.

The Giants finished the first day of the draft by selecting USC corner Terrell Thomas, the seventh Trojan taken in the first two rounds. The third through seventh rounds will take place Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. (et).