Arizona Cardinals NFL Draft Preview: Sidney Jones
By Jeremy Meek
The Arizona Cardinals might look to draft a cornerback early in the NFL Draft, and Sidney Jones would be a great option
The 2017 NFL Draft is loaded at cornerback. Marshon Lattimore is at the head of the class for most, but Sidney Jones, formerly of the University of Washington, isn’t far behind him. He’s nearly universally one of the top two corners in this draft.
The Arizona Cardinals have spent a good deal of time looking for a cornerback to pair with Patrick Peterson. Last season, Marcus Cooper filled the role, and performed admirably considering the circumstances. However, he wasn’t very consistent, is now a free agent, and and upgrade would be ideal. Jones could be that upgrade.
First, there are the vitals. Jones measures in at 6’1″ and 170 pounds. So, he has the length that teams love, though he’s on the thin side. His weight, however, isn’t indicative of the way he plays. He loves to line up in press coverage and get physical at the snap. Bigger receivers, especially NFL-level ones, might make this more difficult, though.
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Experience will play in Jones’ favor as well. He started in each of the last three seasons, and he produced as well, recording at least two interceptions each year. The former Husky has terrific ball skills, using great instincts and an innate ability to shoot to the ball once it’s in the air.
Run support could be a concern, again due in part to his lack of bulk. This extends to the concerns with big receivers as well. If they can push him around down the field in coverage, he could have trouble bringing them down after the catch as well.
Overall, Jones has the ability to become a top-notch NFL cornerback. His combination of quickness, toughness, and instincts is tempting for a number of teams, and he’s likely to get drafted inside the top 20. The Cardinals have a number of directions they could go, but adding a potentially elite corner with the 13th pick wouldn’t be a bad idea.