If anyone can show me a professional mock draft where Jordan makes it to #12, I will happily concede that he was a reach at #3.
ESPN's three mocks (
Kiper,
McShay,
Scouts Inc.) had him at #7, #2, #7.
FOX Sports (
Schrager) had him at #4.
Sports Illustrated (
King) had him at #4.
CBS's four mocks (
Rang, Brugler, Kirwan, Prisco) had him at #6, #2, #4, #4.
NFL.com's four mocks (
Mayock, Jeremiah, Casserly, Brooks) had him at #9, #8, #4, #5.
Ireland clearly got a good deal on the price to move up to #3. The only real question is who you go with. Would anyone here have been happy to see Ireland give up a first and a second for yet another first-round OLineman? Should he have picked a DT? Or went with Tavon Austin, who would have been even more of a reach?
You can make the argument that MIA should have stayed at #12 and gotten someone that turned out to still be available, but the idea that Jordan would still be on the board at #12 when Mingo went off at #6 is... not reasonable. Of the thirteen mock drafts I just listed, Jordan went off the board before Mingo in all but one (and in that one, Jordan still went off at #8).
Another great post Spidey.
I am slowly warming to the pick, and do respect Ireland having to guts to make such a bold move that didn't cost us the farm, but on the other hand I also have horrific mental scarring from his previous gambles in the upper rounds. White, Merling, Thomas, Jerry, Egnew, etc, not to mention overall the number of top three round picks since 2008 that aren't at the Dolphins anymore is nothing short of scary.
Jordan was mocked universally high (even by Rang, whose review strangely didn't read that great), not sure how much of that was due to the association with Chip Kelly, or the need for pass rushers by a number of teams. His athleticism seems to be the main attraction, along with his potential versatility (something Rang did question), and being picked that high people will expect the next Jason Taylor, LT, or at the very least JPP. High expectations, probably unfair ones, but he is now the number three pick of the draft.
It's not a huge reach by Ireland and he got a good deal moving up, but on the surface it is still a reach and potentially a luxury pick considering we had other crucial needs - if we managed to get Joeckel everyone would be patting him on the back, not that it was a possibility after the Jags pounced. This seems a bigger gamble than Tannehill, a lot bigger one than Pouncey - those were picks that fell within the mock ranges, but were also absolute needs. Granted, this move will hopefully unleash some more Cam Wake on Brady & co, and maybe a top pass rush will help cover our dire lack of quality corners. Cam isn't going to last forever for that matter, his possible long-term replacement is in the wings, but we have other key positions that need 1s, 2s & 3s, not 4s, 5s, & 6s (which I think quotes a certain guy from last year
).
Author