2017 Buffalo Bills Draft Prospects: Safety Josh Jones
Continuing our new daily series, we continue to take a look at players the Buffalo Bills may consider selecting at some point during the 2017 NFL Draft. While these players may not all be first round quality, this series will look at players across all the rounds that the Buffalo Bills could select during the draft process.
Moving on from yesterday’s likely first round selection in wide receiver Mike Williams, today, we take a look at a player that could be an early day three pick for Buffalo. In need of help at the safety position, we take a look today at Josh Jones.
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Background
A top performer at the NFL Combine in four different categories, Josh Jones really burst onto the scene in the last couple of weeks. Running a 4.41 40-yard dash, recording 20 bench press reps, and jumping 37.5 inches in the vertical and 132 inches in the broad jump, Josh Jones proved that he is an extremely talented athletic specimen.
Leading North Carolina State with 109 tackles last season, Jones also recorded four tackles for loss and three interceptions. Named as a honorable mention to the All-ACC team by the league’s media representatives, Jones was an impact player to say the least for the Wolfpack. Add in his combine numbers and Jones is a player that looks to be on the rise.
Strengths
Possessing the height and weight that NFL executives look for in a draftable safety, Jones is a player that possesses some great acceleration and overall top end speed to get from end-to-end while pursuing the ball carrier. Playing as a centerfielder at times for the Wolfpack, Jones has shown the ability to disguise himself before zipping in to break up the pass.
Other areas of his game that have shown through are his ball skills. While he doesn’t possess that ball hawking ability head coaches love, Jones will bring in some interceptions. That said, his best attribute in this area is his ability to break up passes. While interceptions would of course be better in many scenarios, you cannot undervalue how important pass breakup skills are.
Weakness
While his aggression could also be listed as a strength, Josh Jones has let his himself get in the way of making sure tackles. Looking to bring the boom rather than just simply wrap up, Jones has missed his fair share of tackles. While fans may love players that can lay some big hits, coaches hate when these moves end up costing the team a first down or worse.
Other areas of concern revolve around his willingness to take the bait. Known to lose track of his assignment while watching the quarterback, Jones also has issues when it comes to falling for the play fake. That said, if a coach believes these issues can be fixed, Jones may be the steal of the draft when he comes off the board on day three.
Highlight Reel
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