Washington Redskins 2017 Draft Profiles: Sidney Jones, CB

Sidney Jones, CB
School: Washington | Conference: PAC-12
College Experience: Junior | Age: 22
Height / Weight: 6-1 / 181 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 1st Round
NFL Comparison: Kevin Johnson

College Statistics

Player Overview

Sidney Jones is a former high school wide receiver, running back, cornerback, and safety. The California native originally decided to commit to the University of Utah before de-committing and joining the Huskies. Sidney Jones didn’t allow a single touchdown reception in 2016. In a loaded CB class Jones also has the case to make of best coverage corner of them all or at least most preferred. Coaches made it part of their game plans not to throw to Jones and he was only targeted 48 times all year. Jones is great at playing both press and zone coverage and has the length, speed, athleticism, and attitude to play all over the field.

Strengths

• Excellent coverage corner with good hands and overall great sense of awareness, timing, and anticipation.
• Great in breaking on the ball in zone coverage and his acceleration and makeup speed show both in short areas and on deep routes.
• Plays disciplined and shows patience but will fight for the ball until it hits the ground.
• Ability to run the route for the receiver.
• Despite his slender frame he is physical. He is more than willing to come up and play the run and put a hit on a man and he will get his hands into the chest of a receiver off the LOS.

Weaknesses

• Less than ideal playing weight. Will be interesting if he meets his weight goal at the Combine.
• Needs to get stronger or he runs the risk of getting pushed off the route by bigger and stronger receivers.
• A bit stiff and rigid when changing direction in the open field.

Let’s see his work:

How He Would Fit On The Redskins

If the Redskins truly follow a BPA approach there is a chance that if Jones is still on the board he could be the best player available. There is a lot of cornerback talent in this draft with the potential to go in the first round but Sidney Jones has to be my favorite of them all. Adding another potential No. 1 corner would make the Redskins contenders for the best cornerback core in the NFL. The Redskins have renewed hope that the talent they have will be put in a position to succeed so what some might call a problem with excess cornerback talent I think is a good problem to have.

The addition of Jones would also allow the Redskins to plan for a future without Bashaud Breeland is the team does not wish to resign him or can’t resign him after his rookie deal ends this year. Jones would provide another threat on the outside potentially opposite of Josh Norman and have the ability to play both patiently and aggressively as Norman does. Jones also has good ball skills and could help the Redskins up their takeaway production and well as potential develop into a true shutdown corner on the outside.