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Position: Running Back
Height: 6'2" Weight: 231
College: Florida
Drafted: 3rd Round, 95th overall
The Washington Redskins drafted Matt Jones , presumably to spell Morris and have a third down role. But is he ELITE?
#1. Matt Jones is the highest drafted running back picked by the Redskins since Ladell Betts in 2002 (this makes me feel old, by the way).
#2. Matt Jones' agent, Hadley Engelhard, should do mock drafts for a living, in spite of what SkinsNJ thinks. Just look at this prediction.
I don't think he gets out of the third round to be honest with you," Engelhard said. "If he does slip, he wouldn't slip past the fourth round. In today's two-back system that most teams are implementing, he's a perfect 1B back for a team that has a 1A back now, because he can block, he can catch the ball, and he is a tough big guy.
He becomes immediately a short-yard, passing-down guy and it could morph its way into an every-down back. No matter what it is, he is going to have an immediate role on a team from day one.
Damn. Hit the nail on the head.
#3. According to Wikipedia, Matt Jones' high school State Championship team, Armwood, was stripped of their 6A title... so was their opponent. RED FLAGS!
#4. Scot McCloughan is reminded of Marshawn Lynch when he watches Matt Jones.
Matt Jones reminds me a lot—a lot—of Marshawn from the standpoint that he’s north-south, he’s downhill and he’s not afraid of contact," Redskins General Manager Scot McCloughan said this week on ESPN 980.
He’s going to hit you and he’s going to keep hitting you until you get tired of tackling him.
#5. Matt Jones is big.
Also, new Redskins RB Matt Jones is a big dude.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 2, 2015
Matt Jones wearing Brandon Meriweather's old 31 jersey.. #Redskins 3rd rounder from Florida is a big dude.. #RedskinsTalk
— Rob Carlin (@RobCarlinCSN) May 26, 2015
The more I see #Redskins RB Matt Jones the more I'm convinced he wasn't brought here to be a project. That's a big man at 6'2 231 lbs
— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) June 9, 2015
"Matt Jones looks huge. He looks out of place amongst the RBs" -Redskins beat reporter on future franchise RB
— TheAbstract (@Abstract_cool) May 26, 2015
Bottom Line: Matt Jones is a mammoth running back. While the Redskins have an ELITE, workhorse back on the roster, having another never hurts. Jones represents a renewed commitment to the run in Washington, and hopefully a renewed commitment to kicking ass.