Praying Mantis

In a move that sent shock waves throughout the entire draft audience, and Miami Dolphins fans everywhere, the newest member of the team is the defensive end/outside linebacker from Oregon Dion Jordan. Miami executed a trade with the Oakland Raiders to move up to the third selection in order to take Jordan. While most people, fans and prognosticators alike, assumed that Miami was trading up to secure LT Lane Johnson, they decided to take the pass rusher instead. Initially I, and I think most fans, hated the move. The more I think about it though, the better the move looks for us.

There are a lot of options left for Miami to fill the left tackle position that we still desperately need. The trade for Branden Albert is still on the table. It looks like Kansas City and Miami are playing a game of chicken over Albert, with Miami hoping that KC will blink and accept a third round pick instead of the second that they currently are asking for. If the Chiefs stand firm though, there are still plenty of options available in free agency. Eric Winston could be signed by us to man the right side of the line, bumping Johnathan Martin over to the left. We could also sign the recently released Tyson Clabo to man the left, keeping Martin at RT, which is the position that he looked more comfortable at last season. Martin is not yet strong enough physically to be put on the left side, though he has reportedly bulked up in the off-season, gaining 15 pounds of muscle.

The move also does a lot to bolster our defense. For years the Dolphins have needed to add a pass rusher to put opposite Cam Wake. They tried to put Jared Odrick opposite him last season, but Odrick is more of an interior lineman. Now with the addition of Jordan, we can put Odrick at a more natural position for him, while also gaining a significant upgrade at the edge-rusher position. Not only does this move drastically improve our defense up front, it will also help us address our needs at corner. A defensive back's best friend is a good pass rush. A quarterback can't find the open man if he's flat on his back.

The move is also great when you consider what it took to make it. The Raiders were only able to swap firsts and add one of Miami's two second round picks in the deal. For comparison, the New England Patriots were able to ascertain a second, third, fourth, and seventh round pick from the Minnesota Vikings for their pick in the first round, which was the 29th pick in the first round. To say that Miami robbed the Oakland Raiders would be an understatement. I cannot fathom how, exactly, the Raiders let us get away with such a one-sided trade. We will have to see what Miami does tomorrow with their remaining second round and two third round picks, but it's clear with this move that we are serious about becoming contenders in the AFC.