Should the Miami Dolphins Bid on Josh Gordon in the Supplemental Draft?

The football world is abuzz with speculation about Josh Gordon and where he will land in the supplemental draft. The frenzy is largely a product of the dead news zone as we await training camp, but Gordon represents one of the more tantalizing supplemental draft prospects in recent memory.

Gordon participated in pro day activities today. The 6'3", 220-pound receiver out of Baylor and Utah posted a respectable 4.52-second forty-yard dash, though that fell short of some expectations. He also put up 13 225-pound bench press reps, a 36" vertical leap and a 10'1" broad jump.

There were 21 teams in attendance, presumably including the Dolphins, who have shown interest in Gordon. While he may not have blown the workout out of the water, Gordon posted good numbers for a guy who has not played or trained for a significant amount of time since 2010.

Indeed, Gordon has some good comparables:

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[Brian] Quick: 6-4, 220, 4.48 40, 15 bench-press reps, 34-inch vertical; Gordon: 6-3, 224, 4.52, 13 reps, 36-inch vertical.

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"— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurke_SI) July 10, 2012"

Quick was a raw, small-school receiver taken at the top of the second round by the St. Louis Rams. Should Gordon be considered with such a high draft pick?

His numbers would have put him in the upper half of the pack at the NFL Combine. Altogether, Gordon's combined numbers are pretty good in one package, especially for his size.

Of course, size and speed are just a small part of the equation. What does the tape say?

Rookie Scouting Portfolio author Matt Waldman says, "[Gordon] reminds me of a mix between a raw Terrell Owens and Demaryius Thomas."

That is high praise, though the key word in there is "raw." Waldman goes on to break down some of Gordon's tape, which highlights his game speed and what he must improve at the next level.

Here is what Bleacher Report's own Matt Miller had to say about Gordon:

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He has the body size (6'4", 220 lbs) to matchup well against bigger cornerbacks and be a target in the red zone, but unlike most big receivers he also possesses the burst to run away from defenders after the catch.

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Outside of his relative lack of experience, the real red flags come from off the field. Miller notes that Gordon has just one year of experience as a starter after being suspended from Baylor's program and transferring to Utah. His arrest for misdemeanor marijuana possession is also a factor whether a team will take a chance on him.

Then again, character concerns might be overblown. Optimum Scouting's Eric Galko spoke with Baylor coaches, who had good things to say about Gordon, noting he just made some bad decisions. It is worth noting other prospects with similar concerns have been taken with high draft picks, notably Janoris Jenkins and Jimmy Smith in recent years.

There seems to be little doubt that Gordon will be selected in the supplemental draft, and some think he will be taken with a relatively high draft pick. Scout Tom Melton, who believed Gordon had first-round upside before his off-the-field issues, predicts the Dallas Cowboys will select him with a third-round bid.

Miami has higher draft position than the Cowboys by virtue of record—the supplemental draft process is different than the annual NFL draft—so they would get Gordon if they put in a third-round bid of their own. It is not out of the question that another team would use a second-round pick on the talented-but-risky receiver, however, particularly a perennial playoff contender. 

My prediction is that teams will not be as high as we are on the receiver, meaning the Dolphins would have to do no better than a third-round pick to get him. Jeff Ireland has an extra third-rounder in his pocket thanks to the Brandon Marshall trade. Will he be willing to use his third-round pick to take a chance on Gordon?

It would be unsurprising considering the state of the Dolphins receiving corps. Brian Hartline is recovering from an appendectomy, and he has not been a picture of health for the Dolphins since joining the team. Joe Philbin wants to spread the wealth on offense, but he needs receivers who can capitalize on those gains. 

Gordon's impact will likely be minimal as a rookie—at least during the first part of the season—considering his year-long layoff and a late start with the team, but he could be the X-receiver of the future for Miami. How those factors weigh into his value is difficult to predict.

Of course, Ireland had plenty of opportunities to draft a good receiver this past April, opting to wait until the sixth round to take B.J. Cunningham instead of taking a host of other highly touted receivers in earlier rounds. If that is any indication, he may not be interested in spending a relatively high draft pick on a risky player like Gordon.

There is also the question of whether Ireland would even want to take a potential headache with one of the draft picks he received in getting rid of one. A likely scenario is that Ireland loses Gordon while putting in a fourth- or fifth-round bid if he even decides to take a chance.

We will find out tomorrow.