With three first-year personnel chiefs holding each of the top three picks in the draft, the Dolphins’ Jeff Ireland struck first, as you may have heard, inking OT Jake Long to a five-year, $57.5 million deal with $30 million guaranteed.

The Long deal sets the scene for an interesting study of Rams executive V.P. of player personnel Billy Devaney and Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff as they face the difficult decision of whether to hold onto their pick or deal it. Coincidentally, Devaney spent the last two seasons in Atlanta’s front office, serving as the assistant GM. Dimitroff was the Patriots’ director of college scouting for the last five years.

Both men are sure to have their cell phones buzzing for next few days in the lead up to Saturday and each is reportedly considering moving down in the first round. Dimitroff has publicly jockeyed for potential trade partners to call him and recently said he had held discussions with several teams about a swap, though he added that nothing was “concrete.”

Their decisions on whether to trade or not will be tone-setters for their early part of their tenures. A controversial deal that will take their team out of the running for players that have been billed as can’t-miss prospects is sure to cause groans from a significant portion of the fan base and as PFW’s Nolan Nawrocki reported today, could create a rift within the organization, in the case of the Rams. Both men, with sparkling resumés, have to be feeling the heat as they determine what could ultimately dictate the widespread perception of their shrewdness as head honchos.