NFL Mock Draft 2013: Does Dion Jordan deserve top 10 hype?

The Oregon pass rusher is starting to creep up mock drafts, but does his game warrant the hype?

Mar 24, 2013, 4:55 PM UTC

Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

Pass rushers are at a premium every April. Pass rushers that have the athleticism to stand up and cover slot receivers are at even more of a premium.

That's why Dion Jordan is crawling up mock drafts, reaching as high as No. 2 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. But NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks doesn't think Jordan warrants the top five, or even top 10 hype.

“When I’m picking in the top five, I’m thinking about someone who’s absolutely going to change my defense,” Brooks said. “He just doesn’t give me what I want to see as a pass rusher, and because of that, I can’t put him in the top 10.”

Daniel Jeremiah, meanwhile, has Jordan as the No. 2 overall pick in his latest mock draft, while Brooks has him falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 13 overall.

Jordan comes in at No. 7 on our top 200 big board and was slotted No. 8 to the Buffalo Bills in the latest mock draft. Brooks notes Jordan's lack of production down the stretch as a reason for shying away from him in the top 10 picks, but Jordan was playing through a shoulder injury late in the season that recently required surgery.

Also read: Dion Jordan 2013 NFL Draft scouting report

The main reason we believe Jordan deserves the top 10 hype is the versatility he brings to the table. He has the ability to drop back and cover receivers out of the slot but also brings upside as a pass rusher. The production may not have always been there and he does need to get stronger, but Jordan has the type of burst, length and bend around the edge to become a dominant edge rusher in the NFL. For a creative defensive coordinator, Jordan brings a ton of skills to work with.

Brooks says when picking in the top five, he wants a player that will absolutely change his defense. Jordan could do just that. What kind of player can put his hand in the dirt to get after the passer and stand up and play slot corner on the very next down? That sounds like a player that will change the face of a defense from day one. The biggest lingering concern is his shoulder injury and strength, but we’ll leave that in the hands of the medical evaluators.