Countdown to Kickoff: Profile on New England Patriots No. 24 Cyrus Jones
The Countdown to Kickoff series continues on with a look at New England Patriots rookie cornerback Cyrus Jones who looks primed to make an immediate impact for the Super Bowl contender.
There are exactly 24 days until the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers open up the 2016 NFL regular season with a Super Bowl rematch. As we continue to countdown to kickoff, today we are checking in with a rookie for the New England Patriots.
The Countdown to Kickoff series began with a look at No. 99 Joey Bosa and has continued on everyday since (check out all of the posts here).
There are plenty of talented NFL players who wear number 24 who would be worthy here. I strongly considered guys like Devonta Freeman, Josh Norman, Darrelle Revis and Ryan Mathews, but decided to go with an interesting rookie who can make a major impact for a prominent team.
Let’s take a look at New England Patriots rookie cornerback Cyrus Jones.
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Without a first round selection, the Patriots made Jones their first player taken in the 2016 NFL Draft after they took him in the second round (60th overall).
Jones enters the NFL after a stellar career at the University of Alabama. As a top-notch return specialist and a promising defensive back, Jones was an absolute force in college.
While he probably had legitimate first-round talent, NFL teams seemed to have a bit of an issue with Jones’ lack of size. Listed at 5-foot-10, 200 pounds Jones does not have ideal size to play the outside cornerback position at the next level, causing him to slip to the Patriots at the end of the second round.
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Most around the league look at Jones as primarily a slot cornerback, but I think he has the raw ability to make a consistent impact on the outside. Jones may not be a big and physical presence on the outside, but it is not like he is too short to play the position.
Jones may have some issues against huge receivers on the outside, but at 5-foot-10 with elite athletic upside, Jones should be able to hold his own against a majority of the league.
Look at both Patriots’ starting cornerbacks right now. Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan are both listed at 5-foot-11, with Butler quickly becoming a top-notch player at the position in the league. So, Jones being one inch shorter makes him incapable of playing the outside? I am not buying it.
For the short-term, Jones is probably best-suited to play out of the slot in the Patriots’ nickel defense. That being said, I am incredibly excited about his long-term future as a primary cornerback in this defense.
Butler has grown into a strong number one cornerback option, and Ryan is a solid number two playing across from him. That being said, Ryan is set to hit free agency next off season and Jones would be a prime candidate to replace him.
If nothing else, Jones enters his rookie season as a return specialist with massive upside. That being said, I strongly feel that we will see his defensive prowess shine through sooner rather than later.
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Jones is a talented player who has the skills to shine as an NFL defensive back. The Patriots may have found a big-time steal in the late second round.