Miami jumped from No. 12 to No. 3 for Dion Jordan and…
Miami jumped from No. 12 to No. 3 for Dion Jordan and surrendered the No. 42 pick in the process. Jordan became one of the most damaging high-pick misses of the era, appearing in only 26 games for Miami before suspensions and injuries ended his Dolphins tenure. Oakland used the return on D.J. Hayden and Menelik Watson. Neither became a star, but both supplied meaningful NFL snaps, making the Raiders the winner without justifying the previous A grade.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- pick 2013 1st round pick (12th overall, D.J. Hayden)
- pick 2013 2nd round pick (42nd overall, Menelik Watson)
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 2013 1st round pick (3rd overall, Dion Jordan)
Trade Analysis
Miami's move was one of the boldest of the 2013 first round. The Dolphins sent picks No. 12 and No. 42 to Oakland for No. 3 and selected Oregon edge defender Dion Jordan. The attraction was obvious: rare length and athleticism paired with Cameron Wake could have transformed the pass rush. Instead, Jordan's Miami career was overwhelmed by injuries, limited production and repeated suspensions. He played 26 games over the 2013 and 2014 seasons, recorded only three sacks and did not appear in another game for the Dolphins.
That outcome makes Miami's F unavoidable. The Dolphins sacrificed a high second-round selection to make a top-three investment and received almost no meaningful return.
Oakland's side was better, although not nearly strong enough to deserve an A. The Raiders used No. 12 on cornerback D.J. Hayden. Hayden overcame serious health concerns and remained with Oakland for four seasons, starting 25 games, but never developed into a shutdown corner or earned a second contract from the club. The extra second-round pick at No. 42 became offensive tackle Menelik Watson, who battled injuries and started 17 games over four Raiders seasons.
The Raiders therefore received actual roster service from both selections, which is enough to make the exchange a clear win compared with Jordan's failed Miami tenure. But a top-12 pick and an early second-rounder should ideally produce at least one long-term cornerstone, and Oakland did not get one.
Recalibration is necessary on both sides. Miami remains at F because the trade-up magnified a near-total miss. Oakland drops from A to C+ because Hayden and Watson were useful but ordinary and frequently unavailable. The Raiders win comfortably, but the historical result is a victory by avoidance rather than a franchise-changing haul.