2013 NFL mock draft: Browns select Dion Jordan

With the sixth pick in Pride Of Detroit's 2013 NFL mock draft, the Cleveland Browns select Oregon defensive end/outside linebacker Dion Jordan. Bighaircut is serving as the Browns' general manager, and his reasoning for the pick is below.

Dion Jordan is a freak athlete. Standing at 6'6", 248 lbs., the guy is a monster. He came into the Oregon Ducks football team as a top-10 nationally ranked tight end as a freshman but was switched early in his redshirt sophomore year to DE/OLB hybrid, and he had much more success there. In 2011, he racked up 42 tackles, 13 TFL and 7.5 sacks in 12 games. In 2012, he missed 3 games but still recorded 44 tackles, 10.5 TFL and 5 sacks, as well as forcing 3 fumbles and intercepting a pass.

Jordan's size and length are obviously a plus. He has long arms that allow him to push off of blockers with ease, and his speed (he ran a 4.60 40 at the combine) helps him chase down quarterbacks and running backs. He is quick enough to cover a TE but strong enough to bull rush a tackle. He can beat tackles around the corner with ease, but he will need to develop a better inside move to be more effective.

The obvious downside to drafting a guy like Jordan is his tweener size. 6'6" is a great height to bat down balls or cover a TE, but he has to bulk up his 248-pound frame. Some say that his inexperience (only playing two full years as a DE) will also be a negative, but his upside is enormous. Some draft sites have him going as high as No. 2 overall.

The Cleveland Browns have been looking for a beast edge rusher for some time now. Whilst perusing Dawgs By Nature, the Browns' SB Nation site, I asked what their biggest need would be in the draft. I received mixed answers, but most agreed that they would need a DE/OLB or No. 2 CB. Seeing as Milliner was gone, it seemed relatively easy to make this pick.

The Browns had a pretty great FA signing period, so this means that they're able to take the BPA. Most of the Browns fans that I know (living in Ohio, I know a lot of them) want Brandon Weeden to have another shot at winning the starting quarterback job this year, and bringing in Jason Campbell solidifies the fact that the Browns will NOT take Geno Smith at No. 6. The Browns are also making the switch to a 3-4 defense this year, and drafting Dion Jordan will make the transition much easier.

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Check out the 2013 Pride Of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.