As expected, the Miami Dolphins are talking to the agents for multiple players regarding the No. 1 overall selection in the draft.

On Wednesday, it was reported by the Miami Herald that the Fins are talking with Tom Condon of CAA regarding Michigan tackle Jake Long.  Now, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that the team is talking to another CAA agent (presumably Ben Dogra) regarding Ohio State linebacker/defensive end Vernon Gholston.

Other players who might be approached by the Dolphins include Virginia defensive end Chris Long, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, and Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan.

As we’ve previously explained, the team’s apparent objective is to play one player against the other, in the hopes of doing the best possible deal.  And every player who has a chance at being the No. 1 overall pick must when assessing the offer attempt to predict where he’ll go if he’s not the top pick — and whether he’ll be paid as much or more at a lower slot than what the Dolphins are offering.

For players represented by the same agent (like Jake Long and Ryan) or the same firm (like Jake Long, Ryan, and Gholston), there’s a potential conflict of interest, which the NFLPA’s agent regulations have yet to address.  For every agent who fears being hammered in the industry for doing a “bad deal” at No. 1, there’s an even bigger conflict of interest, which the NFLPA’s regs likewise don’t address.  Because while it might be in the player’s best interests to take what he can get and be the first overall pick, it’s clearly not in the interests of the agent to be associated with a deal that doesn’t reflect a significant increase in the total package and guaranteed money paid last year to Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell.