Dion Jordan: Why The Miami Dolphins Shouldn’t Trade Up
By Eric Roddy
The Miami Dolphins learned a valuable lesson today as former third overall pick Dion Jordan was suspended for the entire 2015 NFL season. Jordan, who the Dolphins moved up (after first round picks and giving up a second rounder with Oakland) to select at third overall in the 2013 NFL Draft, violated the league’s substance abuse policy after submitting a diluted sample. He had violated the league’s substance abuse policy twice before this incident, and was suspended a combined 8 games.
This suspension likely spells the end of Dion Jordan‘s brief career in the NFL, and spells yet another busted first round pick for the Miami Dolphins. More importantly, it unveils an important lesson to current GM Dennis Hickey and the entire Dolphins front office and coaching staff: do not trade up unless you are drafting the next Andrew Luck (or someone that is that much of a “for sure” player).
Former Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland made a huge mistake in drafting Dion Jordan at third overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. The fact is, Jordan was too risky to garner giving up the 12th overall pick and a second rounder in addition for the third round pick. Instead of drafting the much safer pick at the time – OT Lane Johnson from Oklahoma – the Dolphins chose the risky yet talented DE/OLB hybrid Dion Jordan.
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Sure, he was athletically gifted and extremely explosive in college. But what the Dolphins failed to confirm was Jordan as a for sure thing, a player who was devoted to the game and was dedicated to the integrity of the game. Add on top of that the fact that the Dolphins had zero knowledge of how to play or use Jordan, and the talented young rookie had disaster written all over him from the start. So yes, part of Jordan’s failure was a result of Miami’s lack of coaching and development, something they have lacked since the start of the 2000’s.
Dion Jordan will cost this team more than his $14 million in guaranteed money he has made since he became the third overall draft pick. A miss of this proportion in the draft can and usually sets a team back a few seasons. Look at the Raiders and Jamarcus Russell. They are still rebuilding from greatly missing with the first overall pick. Granted, Miami is in much better standing and will not suffer nearly as much from Dion Jordan, but here is a short list of the players they could have invested in with the 3rd overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
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Lane Johnson OT, Oklahoma – He is ironically now playing for Jordan’s college coach, Chip Kelly, in Philadelphia. Johnson would have become Miami’s bookend tackle.
Ziggy Ansah, DE Detroit Lions – Ansah has been a menace in his short time in the NFL, and already has produced far more than Jordan has and ever will now.
Jonathan Cooper, G Arizona Cardinals – Cooper has been outstanding for the Cardinals, and was very much a “for sure” thing in the 2013 NFL Draft. He is quickly becoming one of the best guards in the nation.
Star Lotulelei, DT, Carolina Panthers – He was arguably the best DT last year in the NFC behind recent signee Ndamukong Suh. Star is a star, case and point.
I am not saying that taking Jordan was the wrong move in the 2013 NFL Draft for Miami. However, trading up to do so in hindsight was a terrible decision. Not only did the Dolphins miss out on all the players above, who will take great strides in the upcoming season, but they drafted a bust.
Hopefully Dennis Hickey and the entire Dolphins organization can learn from their mistake, and not make a similar mistake in Thursday’s first round ceremonies.
FINS UP!