People often assume 100% of a draft pick's performance is based on them. But coaching, system, and opportunities also play a significant part.
Jordan obviously has some personal issues, but I also wonder how much that dysfunctional locker room last season also contributed to his lackadaisical self-control. Maybe with different veterans, this turns out differently.
So many things factor in:
- Getting over-drafted, creating higher expectations and more pressure, which a prospect may not be able to handle
- Being changed to a full time defensive lineman, when his skill set and physique weren't best suited for that role
- Maturity to learn a different role
- Commitment and work ethic to learn a different role
- Intelligence to learn a different role
- Off-field issues
- Team environment and mentoring
- Coaching
- Change in team leadership (a new GM who didn't draft him, and may feel very differently about him)
Among others. It's hard to say exactly where the fault lies. Certainly Jordan's performance and his substance issues have been disappointing. The further out a prospect goes from being drafted without showing signs of developing, the less the chance that he will break through - not impossible, but less and less likely.
Jordan faces an uphill battle at this point, but I think his odds would be better in a different environment, with a fresh start and lesser expectations.