Dolphins Select Dion Jordan 3rd Overall
NEW YORK (CBSMiami) - The Miami Dolphins made a bold move Thursday night in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft by trading with the Oakland Raiders and selecting Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan with the third overall pick.
The Dolphins were rumored to be interested in trading up in the draft, but the belief had been the Fins were targeting one of the draft's elite left tackles Eric Fisher, Luke Joeckel, or Lane Johnson.
When the trade first went through, the entire set of the NFL Network analysts believed it was to select Johnson out of Oklahoma after Fisher and Joeckel were selected with the first two picks of the draft.
But the pick stunned many observers, but in the grand scheme of the team, the pick could be a shrewd move by Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland.
By selecting a defensive end, the Dolphins were looking to have Cameron Wake see less double-teams and make the team's pass rush that much more lethal.
In a division with Tom Brady, getting after the quarterback could be the difference between the Dolphins making the playoffs and sitting at home.
Jordan is a beast on the outside standing 6'6", weighing 250 pounds, and runs a 4.6 seconds 40-yard-dash. Jordan's athleticism allowed him to even line up on the outside covering tight ends and slot wide receivers.
NFL Network's Mike Mayock said Jordan could add another 20 pounds of weight and rival players like Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker/defensive end DeMarcus Ware. Mayock and others also said Jordan was very reminiscent of former Dolphin Jason Taylor.
The Dolphins gave the Raiders the team's first round pick, number 12, and the team's first second-round pick, number 42 overall, to move up in the draft to select Jordan.
The big question remaining for the Dolphins is will the team trade for Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert. The Fins have one second round pick and two third round picks remaining in the draft's first three rounds.
