The Miami Dolphins are looking to bounce back from a dramatic 2013 season and the team needs improvement from Dion Jordan and Mike Wallace, two players that came up in trade rumors this offseason and with Jarvis Landry and another defensive end getting picked in the draft, both players are on notice from GM Dennis Hickey and still could be traded down the line.
Hickey did not draft Jordan and he was not the general manager to sign Mike Wallace and that could lead to deals down the road if the players are not performing up to expectations. According to the Miami Herald, the team could be more willing to move Wallace if Landry progresses the way they think he can, while the team hopes Jordan can bounce back from a tough rookie season after being taken third overall in 2013. The Dolphins traded up to get Jordan and put a ton of money into Wallace and now they are hoping those moves pay off.
Both players came up in trade rumors during the offseason and the Eagles looked like a prime spot for Jordan, as he played for Chip Kelly in college and was at his most productive while at Oregon. The Eagles picked a defensive pass rusher with their first round pick so they likely will not be looking for a trade here, but Jordan understands that the Dolphins have high expectations for him and this season he will be expected to meet them. Jordan is an athletic beast, but he has to play better from the ground and in the Miami defensive scheme and they are looking to get much better up front after the way the team played last season. Jordan could be a force on the defensive line and if the Dolphins coach him up right he could be a Pro Bowl player in a few years.
Wallace will be under the microscope again and that is partially due to his massive contract and because of his explosive nature. Wallace had just 73 catches for 930 yards last season and that is well of his best years when he wants back to back with 1,257 and 1,193 yards for the Steelers while scoring a combined 18 touchdowns, while last season he had just five. Wallace can be a nice weapon for Ryan Tannehill and the team has depth at the position with Wallace, Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson, Rishard Matthews, Damian Williams and Armon Binns and adding Landry could make that into a great unit.
Landry teamed with Odell Beckham at LSU and they both went over 1,000 yards, with Landry putting up 77 catches for 1193 yards and 10 touchdowns. The season before he had 56 catches for 573 yards and five touchdowns and he leaves college after posting a 15.5 yards per catch average last season. The team was ranked 20th in passing yards per game last season with 222 yards per game and now the Dolphins are hoping Tannehill can develop into a better passer and Landry should be able to help that.