The Eagles were reportedly close to trading for Dolphins pass rusher Dion Jordan, the former Oregon standout who won’t appeal the year-long suspension he faces from the NFL for another violation of the league’s drug policy.
According to an ESPN report, the Eagles were nearing a deal to acquire Jordan, who played for Eagles coach Chip Kelly at Oregon and went No. 3 overall in 2012, one spot ahead of where the Eagles picked. Jordan has just three career sacks and faces his third different suspension in the past two seasons.
Since becoming Eagles head coach, Kelly has frequently discussed the importance of character for his program. Kelly puts as much emphasis on off-field check marks as prototype position size and position-specific athleticism.
If Kelly truly looked into acquiring Jordan, it could have been viewed as hypocritical and preferential toward players he coached at Oregon, although Jordan probably wouldn’t have been acquired to start and would have come cheaply. Jordan has guaranteed base salaries of $585,000 in 2015 and $675,000 in 2016.
“Trust me, the guy that went number three (Jordan) we were considering very heavily, but didn’t get the chance to pull the trigger on that one," Kelly said after the 2013 draft.
Jordan has had several drug-related issues since entering the league, including two last year. The first disciplined Jordan for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, the second for the substance-abuse policy.
The latest suspension comes from a diluted test sample, per ESPN, which the NFL views as equivalent to a failed test. The Eagles, obviously, ducked out of trade talks with Miami after the diluted sample came out, the report added.
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The Eagles have starting outside linebackers in Brandon Graham and Connor Barwin but lack depth there, which could explain Kelly’s interest in Jordan. Last year’s first-round pick, Marcus Smith, barely played as a rookie and another key reserve, Travis Long, missed the season after tearing a knee ligament in the preseason finale.
The Dolphins moved up nine spots in 2013, from 12 to three, to take Jordan before the Eagles could. The Eagles then took offensive tackle Lane Johnson, who was suspended the first four games of last season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
Johnson has started all 28 games he’s been eligible to play in his two seasons and figures to eventually replace All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters down the road. Jordan hasn’t come close to fulfilling his expectations, with just three career sacks and one start in 26 career games.