Battle Red Blog
There is a familiar term in the gaming world for characters or strategy with high offensive power and low defense power called “glass cannons”. In NFL terms, it’s a player who is incredibly productive on the field, but is rarely fully healthy due to injuries.
The Texans have several glass cannons on offense. Namely, Tank Dell and Brevin Jordan. The latter is the subject of today’s article; the criticism and potential entering his fifth season in Houston.
The former University of Miami tight end was drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. At the time, Jordan was slotted in behind veteran Pharaoh Brown and two under-achieving third rounders in Jordan Akins and Kahale Warring. There was both the opportunity to start right away and significant competition for snaps at the position.
Jordan’s rookie season started slow as he was a healthy scratch, but once he took the field he immediately impacted the offense. In nine games, he recorded a career high 20 receptions and three touchdowns.
Since his rookie year, the issue has been two fold. First, finding a consistent, legitimate role for Jordan. The second is getting him on the field healthy. He has yet to play a full 17-game season. He’s only started 12 games and the most receptions he’s put tighter was his rookie season with 20. That track record lags behind the leash he’s been given in the Texans organization. Far more productive players have been given far less time to develop as Jordan has. Now with his fifth season in front of him and entering the final year of his contract, this is easily the most critical season in his career.
Jordan has given the Texans enough moments over the years for the coaching staff to believe he has more to given when fully healthy.
The fact of the matter is that Jordan hasn’t played meaningful football since 2023… and he only played 25% of all offensive snaps. That was under a different offensive coordinator and frankly under a different C.J. Stroud.
Additionally, what is going to be Jordan’s role on offense? Dalton Schultz is your pass-catching TE1. Foster Moreau is the grizzled veteran blocking tight end. Cade Stover is the utility belt, potential full back. Marlin Klein is the young buck slated to be the blocking tight end of the future. That leaves a small sliver of opportunity for Jordan to carve a role.
His 2023 stat line positions him well in the offense. As a primarily inline blocker, he can be used in the play action passing game as well as supporting the run. His speed and raw athleticism will create positional mismatches for the defense. If opposing defenses use a defensive back to cover him, then the Texans will opt to run the ball against a weaker box. If they heavy-up to stop the run, he is faster than most linebackers in the league.
The below chart illustrates his capability to make an impact over the middle of the...
