New England Patriots Swing for Fences with CB Cyrus Jones
They had to wait seemingly an eternity, but the New England Patriots were finally able to make a selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. Here is some instant analysis of their selection of CB Cyrus Jones with the 60th overall pick.
Another Nick Saban coached player is one his way to Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, as they welcome Alabama cornerback Cyrus Jones as the newest member of the team. Jones is a big-time play-maker in the defensive backfield who also has elite-level kick and punt return skills. A player who can contribute in many ways on the field, it is easy to see why the Patriots specifically targeted Jones.
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The biggest knock in Jones’ game is always going to be his size. At 5-foot-10, 197 pounds Jones will struggle against the bigger and more powerful NFL receivers, but he has elite speed and quickness for the position, and fantastic natural ball skills.
Jones is considered by most to only be a slot cornerback at the next level, but he is a more talented player than current Patriots’ starter Logan Ryan. I do not think that Jones will come right in and un-seat Ryan, but he certainly does have that upside.
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He shows nice natural coverage ability, but Jones’ size could be too much for him to over-come on the outside. That being said, his real value to a team does not come as a cover player. Jones is a true play-maker with the ball in his hands, and has the fantastic ball skills that allows him to create turnovers and pick-up significant yardage after the play.
I think the Patriots would have been better off selecting a more natural coverage cornerback with the 60th overall pick (Kendall Fuller made a lot of sense to me), but I understand the appeal of Jones here. His ability to make plays as both a defensive back and a returner makes him a potential game-changer for the Patriots right away.
On top of that, Jones will likely now be the Patriots’ full-time punt returner, allowing Julian Edelman to completely focus on his offensive duties. I am not in love with this selection by the Patriots, but it certainly could have been worse.
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Belichick completely trusts the opinion Saban gives on his players, and obviously Saban gave Jones a high-grade. This pick may be considered a reach by some, but Jones is an exciting player who could come in and be a true difference-maker for the Patriots.