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As predicted, the Miami Dolphins threw the first curve ball of the 2013 NFL Draft. Jeff Ireland, Joe Philbin, and Stephen Ross decided that waiting until the 12th overall pick was placed on the clock, they wanted to turn in their little card earlier - much earlier. So, with five minutes remaining on the clock for the Oakland Raiders with the third overall selection, Ireland called them and made an offer. After being rejected, Ireland waited 45 seconds, called back, and made another offer, one that gave Oakland Miami's 12th pick, and their 42nd pick, in exchange for the 3rd pick. Oakland agreed, and Miami was on the clock.
The Dolphins then selected Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan.
Not only had Miami thrown a curve ball by making the trade, now they made the batter look bad by not only having horizontal movement, but that pitch bottomed out just as he swung. No one saw the movement coming, and no one saw Miami grabbing Jordan. Most experts - and to be fair, most fans - expected Miami's move to the third spot to mean three straight offensive tackles would be coming off the board, with Oklahoma's Lane Johnson joining the already selected Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel.
But no, Miami came out aggressively, going straight at the batter and simply dominating him. Ireland was Rick Vaughn last night. He walked out to the mound with the sleeves ripped off his leather jersey, and told Stephen Ross he wanted Parkman (yeah, I went Major League II over the original).
Of the pick, NFL Network's Mike Mayock said:
"This young man, I think he's got the potential to be the player that I compare him to, which is Jason Taylor, who ironically played for the Miami Dolphins. I also think he looks like an Aldon Smith, and if he puts on 20 pounds on that 6-foot-7 frame, one day he might be as good as a DeMarcus Ware."
So you're telling me, the Dolphins traded the 42nd overall pick to, potentially, put Jason Taylor back on the roster? I think I am okay with that.
And, Ireland showed, you may think he has a new look, but the same dead arm, but the boy's pumped up this offseason.