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Los Angeles Rams undrafted gem: DB Mike Jordan

By Sayre Bedinger

May 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Los Angeles Rams helmet and NFL Wilson Duke football at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. NFL owners voted 30-2 to allow Rams owner Stan Kroenke (not pictured) to move the franchise to Los Angeles for the 2016 season. The Rams selected Jared Goff (not pictured) with the No. 1 pick of the 2016 NFL draft after a trade with the Tennessee Titans. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Los Angeles Rams helmet and NFL Wilson Duke football at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. NFL owners voted 30-2 to allow Rams owner Stan Kroenke (not pictured) to move the franchise to Los Angeles for the 2016 season. The Rams selected Jared Goff (not pictured) with the No. 1 pick of the 2016 NFL draft after a trade with the Tennessee Titans. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Rams had the top pick in the draft, but what kind of gem did they find when the draft concluded? Here’s a look at DB Mike Jordan…

The Los Angeles Rams came away from this year’s draft with a significantly improved offense, at least on paper, but what about the defensive side of the ball?

The only draft selection used on that side of the ball was for sixth rounder Josh Forrest, so they would have to take to the crop of undrafted players to get some potential impact on that side of the ball from the class of 2016.

One player that could make an impact is Missouri Western defensive back Mike Jordan, a consensus first-team All-American and one of the top D2 players in the country regardless of position. At 6-0, 200 pounds with a 4.60 40-yard dash, Jordan is a well-built DB prospect with good enough speed to play inside at nickel or as a safety, and showed that he has the ability to also play outside at the cornerback position, and play it really well…

With a 37-inch vertical and a broad jump of 10’7″, it’s clear that Jordan’s 40-time is not indicative of his overall athletic ability.

The Rams currently have a really interesting situation at safety with T.J. McDonald and Mark Barron, though Barron plays some linebacker as well and they don’t have a true free safety with Rodney McLeod departed for the Philadelphia Eagles.

This past season, Jordan put together some impressive numbers, picking off five passes while breaking up 17 more. The year prior, he had four interceptions and 12 more pass breakups. His ability to play the ball makes him a really interesting candidate to see some snaps at free safety this year for the Rams.

He was a starter as a freshman and was named conference freshman of the year in 2012, and has been increasing in productivity ever since. I don’t know if he fell out of the draft because of a 4.6 40-time or not, but the Rams got a steal here and someone who might take some time to develop and adjust to the speed of the NFL, but he is a player that looks like he can make an impact sooner rather than later.

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Jordan said after the draft that he first heard from the Rams in the sixth round, even though they decided not to draft him there. The coaching staff was excited for the opportunity to get him, so the recruiting pitch began there in a sense.

To get him after the draft is basically like stealing an additional day three pick. He has as much upside as you will find in anyone picked in the 5th round or later, which is why he’s my undrafted gem for the Rams.

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