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 field. Provided by PFF, the majority of Jordan’s catches and targets in 2023 occurred within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. Even though his speed was a defining factor in his play, it was only used to get first down and to the sideline.
Additional film from his 2023 season helps display the way Jordan was used. #9 on your screen and potentially #4 on your depth chart, Jordan is a versatile chess piece in the Texans offense.
The Texans liked to stick Brevin in this extended tight end position. It expands the defensive end away from the line of scrimmage while also brings in a secondary player to protect against the run. The quasi-slot role limits combines the support of the run game and threat of the play action pass.
This position creates a fantastic angle for Jordan to block down on the defensive end. It also encourages the defense to utilize a defensive back instead of a linebacker as J
This play from 2023 exhibits the impact Brevin’s speed has on a defense. From the tight end position, he’s able to be at the exact same distance downfield as WR Nico Collins, which forces both safeties to crash. That left Collins one-on-one down the sideline.
As an inline blocker, Brevin leaves a lot to be desired. His 6’3, 245 pound frame is not equipped to dislodge and move defensive ends or linebackers. However, when employed in situations where he can seal edges, create gaps, and combo, he’ll be much more successful in two tight end schemes. This play illustrates how his speed impacted the play by sealing off the defender to create a better run lane for Singletary.
Whether Jordan will have his hand in the dirt, split out wide, or in the backfield, he brings a versatility and wrinkle to the offense that will surely be needed. Nick Caley’s offense last year was infamously unoriginal. Using Jordan
