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NFL: Oakland snag star rusher McFadden, Falcons grab Ryan

Atlanta grabbed a quarterback to help ease the loss of Michael Vick and Oakland snagged star rusher Darren McFadden with some of the top selections in Saturday’s National Football League draft.

Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan went third overall to the Falcons, who lost Michael Vick to prison when the star signal caller was convicted of financing a dogfight scheme.

The Raiders chose McFadden next, ignoring off-field incidents to pick perhaps the top offensive player available in the field. McFadden ran for 1,830 yards last season for the University of Arkansas.

The collegiate star scoring threats were taken after linemen went with the top two choices, although the usual suspense was swiped from the No. 1 selection thanks to offensive tackle Jake Long signing on Tuesday with Miami.

The University of Michigan standout will be the key blocker protecting the blind side of the Dolphins quarterback after agreeing to a five-year deal worth US$57.5 million that includes US$30 million in guaranteed money.

Long became only the third offensive tackle selected with the top pick, following Ron Yary in 1968 and Orlando Pace in 1997.

The St. Louis Rams made Chris Long, a defensive end from the University of Virginia, the second selection. The son of NFL Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long made 14 sacks and 79 tackles last season.

Other top selections saw defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey go fifth to Kansas City, defensive end Vernon Gholston chosen sixth by the New York Jets and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis selected seventh by New Orleans after a trade with New England.

Jacksonville made a deal with Baltimore for the eighth pick, taking defensive end Derrick Harvey, while linebacker Keith Rivers went ninth to Cincinnati and New England tabbed linebacker Jerod Mayo 10th.
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