Dolphins Draft Rewind: 2013

With the draft one week away, PhinPhanatic.com will look back at the past seven Miami Dolphins draft classes.  Each article will examine who the Dolphins selected in the draft and, when noteworthy, players they passed on.  Today we look back at 2013.

Round 1

The Dolphins were originally scheduled to draft 12th overall but, in a bold move, traded up with the Oakland Raiders to acquire the 3rd selection in the draft.  With that 3rd selection, Miami drafted DE/OLB Dion Jordan, Oregon.

***Above picture chosen because Jordan spent more time like THIS than he did on the field.***

Jordan was touted as an exceptional athlete that could rush the passer one down and cover a tight end the next.  Injuries, and late Oregon graduation date, put Jordan behind schedule in his rookie season.

Once he got on the field, there were moments where he appeared to be on the verge of fulfilling his high draft status.  His coverage of TE Rob Gronkowski and WR Calvin Johnson were impressive feats for a player his size.

However, Jordan ran afoul of the NFL ‘substance abuse’ policy on two separate occasions in 2014 and again in 2015 which ultimately led to the end of his Dolphins career earlier this offseason.  Career totals with the Dolphins:  One start and three sacks.

As for who Miami passed on in favor of Jordan?  DE Ziggy Ansah (5th pick) would have been a definite upgrade. Meanwhile players like DT Sheldon Richardson (13th), CB Desmond Trufant (22nd) and WR DeAndre Hopkins (27th) would have been available to Miami without trading up. Pick Grade:  F

2nd Round

The Dolphins traded their original second round selection (#42) to Oakland in the trade with Oakland but had acquired the 54th pick from Indianapolis in the trade that send CB Vontae Davis to the Colts.  With that 54th pick, Miami selected CB Jamar Taylor, Boise State.

Between injuries and perceived lack of work ethic, Taylor started 9 games in three seasons with Miami and didn’t log a single interception.  He was traded in 2016 to Cleveland for a swap of 7th round picks, or in trade lingo, “a bag of donuts”.

Who was available for Miami in place of Taylor?  Surprisingly, not much.  FS D.J. Swearinger (57th) was the best player picked after Taylor in the second round.  TE Travis Kelce (63rd)  and S Tyrann Mathieu (69th) were selected early in the third round.  Pick Grade:  D

3rd Round

Miami had two selections in round three.  The first of which was pick #77 which was used on G Dallas Thomas from Tennessee.  While underrated compared to his actual performance, Thomas did little to help Miami’s offensive line woes.  He lasted three years but was purged by Miami early in his 4th season (2016) as part of Adam Gase’s “culture shock” message.

With the 92nd pick, Miami ‘doubled down’ on cornerbacks by selcting CB Will Davis out of Utah St.  Like first round pick Taylor, Davis had a short career in Miami (two seasons) and resulted in zero interceptions.

Who did Miami pass on?  CB Logan Ryan (83rd), TE Jordan Reed (85) and DT Brandon Williams (94) were all there for the taking.  Pick Grade:  Thomas C-/Will Davis D

4th Round

LB Jelani Jenkins, Florida (104) and TE Dion Sims, Michigan State (106) both made substantial contributions to the Dolphins team and were worthy of their fourth round selection.  Pick Grade:  Jenkins B/Sims B

5th Round

No real impact players were taken in all of the 5th round and that includes RB Mike Gillislee (164th) and K Caleb Sturgis (166) both out of the University of Florida.  Both players had brief stays with Miami (one year for Gillislee and two for Sturgis) before they moved on.  Pick Grade:  C

6th Round

Due to various trades, Miami had no selections in the 6th round of the 2013 Draft.

7th Round

S Don Jones, Arkansas State was the Dolphins compensatory selection (250th overall) and played some on special teams but made zero starts for Miami in his two year stint with the team.  Pick Grade:  D

Measuring against previous drafts, the 2013 NFL Draft was low on talent but even when compared to other teams on that ‘curve’, Miami came out of this draft class with two role players (Jenkins and Sims) and possibly the biggest bust in team history (Jordan).  Overall Draft Grade:  D