When I think of a Dolphin situational pass rusher who changed the game, I think of Trace Armstrong.
I appreciate everything about Jordan. From his potential to what he has shown on the field. And finally having an answer for Gronk and all those TE's that have killed us over the years is not to be over looked.
That said, I have stated many times that Jordan was a luxury pick. In order to make that luxury pick, we sacrificed 2 picks and RT was sacked 58 times. We valued shopped on the OLine in FA and drafted Dallas Thomas.
Dion Jordan is a classic example of an athlete who will be unfairly judged based on the cost to acquire him and output based solely on stats.
Does he get us one step closer to being an elite team? Yes. Does he change the game? Yes.
Did his acquisition fill a glaring need and help the team win more games? No.
And this is why I say we MUST pursue Mack (C) in a trade. Jordan cost us at least 1 maybe 2 additional OLineman from last year's draft. Those players must be acquired by FA in order to offset the void left by this luxury pick.
As frustrated as fans are with Jordan's output based on his draft status, there will be 10 times as many fans furious when it is time to pay RT when he had the chance to produce elite stats and failed because we failed to build an OLine competent enough to keep him off the ground less than 40 times in a season. They will want blood and complain that his stats do not justify the contract. Yet it is this organization's inability to distinguish need from luxury and when one has more importance than the other that will lead us to this conflict.
If Jordan is to truly be appreciated, we need another proven and talented FA on the OLine to stop the bleeding. We cannot go into next season with 2 All Pros, 1 upcoming and unproven talent, 1 stop gap/value guy and a guy with no NFL starts protecting the most important position on the team.
Admit the mistake, acquire Mack, move Pouncey to G and draft T in the first round. THEN Jordan may be able to truly be evaluated for his actual contributions and not by the sacrifices made to acquire him.