The Miami Dolphins are open to having former first round pick Dion Jordan rejoining the team after his NFL mandated suspension ends, according to a highly placed team source.

"If he wants to play and shows us he loves football, why not?" the source said moments ago in the lobby of the team training facility.

Jordan, picked No. 3 overall in 2013, was suspended in April of 2015 for at least one year. He is already eligible for having petitioned the NFL to return. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would have to meet with Jordan before deciding what course to follow with the player.

Jordan and the Dolphins have not been in contact, per NFL substances of abuse program guidelines requires. So the team admittedly does not know if Jordan is in shape or not, does not know if he has righted his issues or not.

Jordan is in step 3 of the NFL substances of abuse program. He was previously suspended for violating the leagues performance enhancing drugs program and served a four game suspension for that. That was mitigated to a two game suspension but then Jordan was suspended another four games for violating the league's substances of abuse program. This happened in 2014.

The Dolphins have in the past tried to trade Jordan, most notably to Chip Kelly while the coach was in Philadelphia. Kelly coached Jordan at Oregon.

No trade was actually consummated, however, because Jordan's suspensions ruined the timing of the talks.

The Dolphins have an obvious need at defense end. Cameron Wake is 34 years old and is coming off a season-ending ruptured Achilles' injury.

The team signed Mario Williams as a free agent, but he's 31 years old and signed for only two years.

The interesting thin is the Dolphins have never found a place for Jordan, in part because he seemed to always be suspended or injured, in part because the team's previous coaching staff seemed stumped how to use him.

There is a possibility the current coaching staff might want to play Jordan, 6-6 and 270 pounds, as a strong side linebacker because he can run 4.5 and has shown an ability to cover tight ends.