The Miami Dolphins traded up in the first round of last weekend’s NFL Draft to select Oregon pass rusher Dion Jordan with the third overall pick, but while Jordan was primarily an edge rusher with the Ducks, the Dolphins have different plans for him or at least they’re open to them. Jordan is welcome to play defensive end for Miami but the team may end up playing him as a hybrid linebacker in his rookie season.
"The Jordan question: Jordan can attend this weekend’s practices but not future ones in May or June because his class at Oregon hasn’t graduated, according to the Dolphins. So the decision on how best to use him will become clearer in training camp, when he should be fully healthy."
“Could be,” Ireland said, via the Miami Herald, when asked about the possibility of Jordan converting to outside linebacker. “That’s what I like about him. He’s very versatile and he played linebacker there and he also rushed the passer.”
So it’s very possible that we could see Dion Jordan starting the season at outside linebacker, which would make a lot of sense considering how insanely athletic he is. He’ll without a doubt be rushing the passer in his rookie season, but he very well could split his time rushing quarterbacks with covering tight ends like Rob Gronkowski.
Only time will tell if the move will work, if it even happens, but the Dolphins paid a price to get Jordan, so they might as well try him out in all the places they can to ensure he doesn’t end up a bust and the death nil in Jeff Ireland’s reign as general manager.