With the top pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Miami Dolphins team officials will open themselves up to praise or ridicule in future years as they learn whether they selected a franchise player who can help turn their club around, or a player who leaves them wondering how they could have possibly missed the mark so badly in sizing up his potential versus actual ability to succeed in the NFL. The number one overall pick from the past five seasons -- Oakland's JaMarcus Russell, Houston's Mario Williams, San Francisco's Alex Smith, New York's Eli Manning and Cincinnati's Carson Palmer -- are still on the roster of the teams who originally drafted them, which is at least a start. Manning became a Super Bowl MVP after an erratic start in New York, Williams has silenced critics who mocked the Texans for passing on running back Reggie Bush, and Palmer has become the franchise quarterback that Cincinnati desperately needed. But Smith hasn't convinced too many onlookers that he was worthy of his draft-day status, while it's simply to early to tell where Russell will land as the Raiders continue to revamp their roster in hopes of turning around their franchise's losing ways. Looking back at the picks from six to 10 years ago, they've certainly traveled divergent paths since that proud day when their names were called out before all other college football players from their draft class. QB David Carr had no idea of the difficult years that were looming when he was selected with the top overall pick on Draft Day, 2002. Former Texan quarterback David Carr was the top pick in 2002, and after surviving 249 sacks in Houston he spent a forgettable season in Carolina despite having the opportunity to step up and start when Jake Delhomme was lost for the season after just three weeks of action. Carr now heads to New York to play for the defending World Champions where he'll likely be exposed to his harshest critics yet if he has to step in for Manning and falters. Michael Vick was 2001's top pick, and while he had wowed NFL fans with his mobility he only completed 53.8 percent of his passes during his six seasons prior to landing in prison for his role in dog-fighting activities. Although his overall athleticism helped him earn three Pro Bowl selections, his NFL future is cloudy at best. Any team that signs him after he serves his sentence could face a substantial public relations backlash and risks investing in a quarterback who's skills will have eroded during his absence from the playing link to rest of story http://profootballexperts.scout.com/2/743820.html
