Dolphins Shopping Dion Jordan, Should the Chargers be Interested?

Jul 24, 2013; Davie, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan (95) during training camp at the Doctors Hospital Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Jason La Canfora of CBSsports.com tweeted earlier today that the Miami Dolphins are shopping Dion Jordan around the league to gauge his trade value. Here is the tweet:

MIA has been gauging trade value for ’13 1st round pick Dion Jordan, league sources said, after trading up to 3rd overall for him last year

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) February 28, 2014

Jordan is less than a year removed from being the 3rd overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft. Miami traded its 12th overall pick and 2013 2nd rounder to the Raiders in order to move up to #3 to select Jordan. In an interesting season for the Dolphins, there was more to be concerned about than the Martin-Incognito scandal. After giving up enormous value to obtain Jordan, Miami coaches only played him for 330 defensive snaps, which equates to only 28.8% of the available defensive plays. Jordan recorded 2 sacks this year in all 16 games.

Management could not have been happy with the lack of playing time for Jordan, but didn’t necessarily need a pass rusher in the first place. Olivier Vernon and Cameron Wake combined for 20 of Miami’s 42 sacks in 2013 while taking up most of the snaps. Jordan was a popular draft prospect because of his absolutely freakish athleticism. At 6’6″ and 250 lbs., Jordan was still able to run a 4.54 40 at the combine last year.

His strength is his natural athleticism, quick burst, and fluid hips. This allows him to drop back in coverage and hang around with tight ends, backs, and even some slower receivers. But, Jordan was never a premier pass rusher. He was very raw and still is. He has very long arms, but still doesn’t know how to use them. He relies on his speed far too often and overshoots quarterbacks who know when to step up in the pocket.

What Jordan does has is an intense motor and solid feel for spacing and getting off blocks quickly. If the Chargers see the same potential for Jordan as a 3-4 OLB that can be effective on all 3 downs, they should inquire about picking him up. With Jarrett Johnson and Dwight Freeney on the roster, we have two of the smartest and most experienced linebackers that don’t have much time left to impart their knowledge. Imagine this: A linebacking core of Donald Butler, Manti Te’o, Melvin Ingram, and Dion Jordan. Even if Jordan is still developing as a pass rusher, that core should have no problem at least disrupting the pocket. Plus, Dion has awesome hair.

Check out the athleticism he showed at Oregon that made him the #3 overall pick:

Would you make a trade for Dion Jordan? How much would we be willing to give up?