Texas A&M Cornerback Jaylon Jones Drops Out of The First Round?

Texas A&M cornerback Jaylon Jones has it all…or so it seems.

He’s got the ideal sized frame, long arms and an aggressive aura of a ball stalker.

Jones has some real get up and go on game film.

It sounds like he has everything an NFL team would want?

Jones looks the part, but does he play it?

Undoubtedly, he is one of the more challenging evaluations, as is always the case with the prospects who have all the tools but they come up a little short.

There is no question he will shine in the pre-draft workouts and probably work himself into the first-round because of that, but what does the game film say?

He doesn’t have the consistent technique of a polished shut-down corner.

In press man coverage when Jones jams a receiver he tends to get himself off-balance momentarily. Granted, he recovers, but it didn’t look graceful and the receivers are only better at the next level.

I also noticed he tends to play the receiver and not the ball on the deeper stuff, and that is a real problem.

Jones gave up a little too much cushion at times too and allowed catches.

His natural physical ability is not translating enough for me on game film. He’s allowing too many catches for the type of ability he shows.

Elite corners are a premium in the NFL

Outside of quarterback, I can’t think of a higher priority than having two lock-down shut-down corners in today’s pass-happy league.

Having great cornerback play will help your team win, and having inconsistent cornerback play will help your team win some, and lose some.

Once a team drafts a prospect, it’s like a marriage, for better or for worse.

Whichever team selects Jones will have to live with him, and while there are a lot of good things I did like about Jones’ game, as an aspiring general manager myself, I couldn’t take him in the first-round due to his let-downs.

I need ballers at corner in the first-round, not inconsistency.

NFL Draft sites disagree

This time around several draft sites are at least in the neighborhood where my grade is on Jones.

Pro Football Network, CBS and Walter Football all see Jones as a late first-round pick (22-31).

I can see that based on his raw natural ability, but his game film did not make me feel excited enough.

Jones didn’t leave me with the impression of being a dynamic playmaker.

He’s decent, but decent doesn’t win championships.

What’s the problem?

His motor is the issue.

🚩I question how important football is to him🚩

There is nowhere else to turn when someone has the ability, but doesn’t live up to it.

Too many times in run support and in coverage there was let down and it looked like he was coasting.

#17 Jaylon Jones 6-foot-2, 205 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Grade: Second-Round – Early Fall 2022 Report

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Projected by 6.3% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of November 5, 2022 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2021 game film reviewed: Arkansas and Auburn (click to watch games viewed to form this evaluation)

2022 game film reviewed: Miami

Level of competition: High

2021 stats: 35 tackles (23 solo, 12 assists), 6 passes defended, 2 INT.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report:

Tall muscular framed physical corner with long arms, burst, speed, athletic ability, but has momentary lapses where it doesn’t add up. Raw technique that will need work. Can play press, off or zone coverages. Peddles and flips hips well. Best in off-man and zone. Moves well and can run. Good at shadowing, stalking and staying in phase. Able to recover and can break back downhill quickly. Tends to sometimes give too much cushion. More of a secure the tackle type after the fact. Can match at the breakpoints short to intermediate. Lacks ball instincts and plays the receiver and not the ball. Half speed blitzing. Somewhat reluctant in pass and run support. Willing to stick his nose in there if needed, but lacks tackling technique (too high or too low). Decent No. 2 NFL corner.

What to watch for during the 2022 college football season:

1. Showing playmaking ability?
2. Does he give up too much cushion in coverage?
3. How does he look playing the deep ball?
4. Reluctant in run support?

I would have to talk myself into Jones, and that is not a good sign.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.