Dolphins release Dion Jordan, cleaning out last of 2013 Draft

The Miami Dolphins waived/failed physical defensive end Dion Jordan, officially cutting ties with the player who will go down in team history as the biggest draft bust they have ever had. Miami traded up to the third-overall pick to grab Jordan, giving the Oakland Raiders a first- and second-round pick in exchange. At the end of his time with the Dolphins, Jordan had appeared in just 36 games, with one start on defense, recording 46 tackles, three sacks, and three passes defensed; he also had been suspended three times under the substance abuse policy for the league, missing 22 games including all of the 2015 season. He missed another 16 games when injury prevented him from playing the entire 2016 season.

The move to waive Jordan ends a horrible 2013 Draft class for the Dolphins. After Jordan’s selection in the first round, Miami used a second-round pick on cornerback Jamar Taylor, a third-round pick on offensive lineman Dallas Thomas, another third-round selection on cornerback Will Davis, a fourth-rounder on linebacker Jelani Jenkins, a fourth-rounder on tight end Dion Sims, a fifth-round pick on running back Mike Gillislee, a fifth-round selection on kicker Caleb Sturgis, and a seventh-round pick on safety Don Jones. None of those players are still with Miami. Taylor was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2016, Thomas was released during the 2016 season, Davis was traded to the Baltimore Ravens in 2015, Jenkins signed as a free agent with the Oakland Raiders this offseason, Sims signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bears this offseason, Gillislee was released in 2015, Sturgis was released in 2015, and Jones was waived in 2014.

Which made me wonder, was it just the Dolphins who had a horrible 2013 Draft, or was the entire selection process in a down year? While going through all 254 selections is insane, we can take a look at the first 32. Below, you will find the first round of the Draft, with the production from each pick as well as where they are now. On the side (in the middle if you are on a mobile version of the site), you will see a roll-up of the 2013 first-round, as well as the 2012 first-round picks in an effort to get an idea of how the 2013 selections compare.

First Round 2013 NFL Draft

1 - Eric Fisher -Kansas City Chiefs

• 4 years, 62 games played, 59 starts

2 - Luke Joeckel - Jacksonville Jaguars

• 4 years, 39 games played, 39 starts
• Injured reserve for majority of 2016 season
• Signed with Seattle Seahawks as free agent in March 2017

3 - Dion Jordan - Miami Dolphins

• 2 years, 36 games, 1 start, 46 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 passes defensed
• Suspended 3 times
• Waived March 2016

4 - Lane Johnson - Philadelphia Eagles

• 4 years, 50 games played, 50 starts

5 - Ezekiel Ansah - Detroit Lions

• 4 years, 59 games played, 57 starts, 163 tackles, 32 sacks, 2 passes defensed, 9 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
• 2015 season - Pro Bowl

6 - Barkevious Mingo - Cleveland Browns

• 3 years, 46 games played, 16 starts, 102 tackles, 7 sacks, 1 interception, 11 passes defensed, 1 fumble recovery
• Traded to New England Patriots for fifth-round pick in August 2016; 1 year, 16 games played, 1 start, 4 tackles
• Signed with Indianapolis Colts as free agent in March 2017

7 - Jonathan Cooper - Arizona Cardinals

• 2 years, 24 games played, 11 starts
• Spent rookie year (2013) on IR due to broken leg
• Traded to New England Patriots with a second-round pick for defensive end Chandler Jones in March 2016; Inactive for four games before being waived.
• Claimed off waivers by Cleveland Browns in October 2016; 5 games played, three starts; Waived in Decemeber 2016
• Signed with the Dallas Cowboys in January 2017

8 - Tavon Austin - St. Louis Rams

• 4 years, 59 games played, 40 starts, 181 receptions, 1,642 yards (9.1 yards/reception), 12 touchdowns, 125 rushes, 968 yards, 8 touchdowns

9 - Dee Milliner - New York Jets

• 3 years, 21 games played, 14 starts, 62 tackles, 3 interceptions, 17 passes defensed
• Waived in September 2016

10 - Chance Warmack - Tennessee Titans

• 4 years, 48 games played, 48 starts
• Spent majority of 2016 on injured reserve
• Signed with Philadelphia Eagles as free agent in March 2017

11 - D.J. Fluker - San Diego Chargers

• 4 years, 59 games played, 59 starts; Released on March 2017
• Signed with New York Giants as free agent in March 2017

12 - D.J. Hayden - Oakland Raiders

• 4 years, 45 games played, 25 starts, 180 tackles, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 26 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles
• Signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent in March 2017

13 - Sheldon Richardson - New York Jets

• 4 years, 58 games played, 55 starts, 240 tackles, 18 sacks, 6 passes defensed, 5 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries
• 2014 season - Pro Bowl

14 - Star Lotulelei - Carolina Panthers

• 4 years, 60 games played, 59 starts, 125 tackles, 10 sacks, 4 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery

15 - Kenny Vaccaro - New Orleans Saints

• 4 years, 56 games played, 55 starts, 325 tackles, 6 sacks, 5 interceptions, 22 passes defensed, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
• Suspended 4 games in 2016

16 - EJ Manuel - Buffalo Bills

• 4 years, 29 games played, 17 starts, 319-for-547 (58.3%) passing, 3,502 yards, 19 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 77.5 passer rating
• Signed with Oakland Raiders as free agent in March 2017

17 - Jarvis Jones - Pittsburgh Steelers

• 4 years, 50 games played, 35 starts, 129 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 interceptions, 9 passes defensed, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries
• Injured reserve for majority of 2014 season
• Signed with Arizona Cardinals as free agent in March 2017

18 - Eric Reid - San Francisco 49ers

• 4 years, 57 games played, 57 starts, 261 tackles, 1 sack, 8 interceptions, 32 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
• 2013 season - Pro Bowl
• Injured reserve for 6 weeks in 2016

19 - Justin Pugh - New York Giants

• 4 years, 55 games played, 55 starts

20 - Kyle Long - Chicago Bears

• 4 years, 55 games played, 55 starts
• 2013 season - Pro Bowl
• 2014 season - Pro Bowl
• 2015 season - Pro Bowl
• Injured reserve for second-half of 2016 season

21 - Tyler Eifert - Cincinnati Bengals

• 4 years, 37 games played, 30 starts, 123 receptions, 1,491 yards (12.1 yards/reception), 20 touchdowns
• Injured reserve for all but one game in 2014
• 2015 season - Pro Bowl
• Missed first eight weeks of 2016 with injury

22 - Desmond Trufant - Atlanta Falcons

• 4 years, 57 game splayed, 57 starts, 233 tackles, 3 sacks, 7 interceptions, 48 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries (1 touchdown)
• 2015 season - Pro Bowl
• Injured reserve for second half of 2016 season

23 - Sharrif Floyd - Minnesota Vikings

• 4 years, 44 games played, 24 starts, 95 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 4 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble
• Inactive/Injured reserve for all but one game in 2016; Nerve damage during knee surgery could threaten rest of career

24 - Bjorn Werner - Indianapolis Colts

• 3 years, 38 games played, 16 starts, 80 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 5 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries; Waived March 2016
• Signed with Jacksonville Jaguars as free agent in May 2016; Waived in August 2016
• Retired in January 2017

25 - Xavier Rhodes - Minnesota Vikings

• 4 years, 59 games played, 52 starts, 206 tackles, 7 interceptions (1 touchdown), 49 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles
• 2016 season - Pro Bowl

26 - Datone Jones - Green Bay Packers

• 4 years, 59 games played, 7 starts, 80 tackles, 9 sacks, 1 interception, 7 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles
• Signed with Minnesota Vikins as free agent in March 2017

27 - DeAndre Hopkins - Houston Texans

• 4 years, 64 games played, 64 starts, 317 receptions, 4,487 yards (14.2 yards/reception), 23 touchdowns
• 2015 season - Pro Bowl

28 - Sylvester Williams - Denver Broncos

• 4 years, 60 games, 48 starts, 98 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 2 passes defensed, 1 fumble recovery
• Signed with Tennessee Titans as free agent in March 2017

29 - Cordarrelle Patterson - Minnesota Vikings

• 4 years, 64 games played, 22 starts, 132 receptions, 1,316 yards (10.0 yards/reception), 7 touchdowns, 31 rushes, 333 yards, 4 touchdowns
• 2013 season - Pro Bowl, First-Team All-Pro
• 2016 season - Pro Bowl, First-Team All-Pro

30 - Alec Ogletree - St. Louis Rams

• 4 years, 52 games played, 52 starts, 407 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5 interceptions (1 touchdown), 32 passes defesned, 11 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
• Injured reserve for most of 2015 season

31 - Travis Frederick - Dallas Cowboys

• 4 years, 64 games played, 64 starts
• 2014 season - Pro Bowl
• 2015 season - Pro Bowl
• 2016 season - Pro Bowl, First-Team All-Pro

32 - Matt Elam - Baltimore Ravens

• 3 years, 41 games played, 26 starts, 130 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 interception, 8 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries
• Injured reserve for 2015 season
• Injured reserve for portion of 2016 season
• Current free agent

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The 2013 Draft cannot be said to be a dominant one, but clearly the Dolphins were below standard on the year. General Manager Jeff Ireland would be relieved of his duties (“mutually part ways”) in January 2014, while head coach Joe Philbin would hold on for a little over one more season, being fired four games into the 2015 season.

The Dolphins seem to finally be heading the right direction after nearly two decades of mediocrity. A big part of making permanent the move back to a relevant, winning team in the NFL will be how the team drafts. Purging the roster of the last remnants of the 2013 Draft gets rid of a wasted year for the Dolphins and should help them continue to build toward the future.