Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3 Players to avoid in 2020 NFL free agency
3. Byron Jones, Cornerback
Byron Jones, the premier cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys, is set to hit unrestricted free agency after a season where he accumulated 37 solo tackles and six passes defensed in 15 games. Jones has shown tremendous positional flexibility throughout his career as a staple in the Dallas defense and performed remarkably well this past season.
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Given he ranked second in yards allowed per target and ninth in total receptions allowed among defensive backs, he will likely demand to be one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL this offseason.
While the Tampa Bay secondary certainly needs an influx of talent, I don’t believe Jones is worth the money. He may be great at locking down opposing wide receivers but he lacks the ability to force turnovers. Jones has only amassed two interceptions in his five-year career and hasn’t generated a takeaway since 2017. He also allowed three total touchdowns last year, which ranked 27th among defensive backs.
I am not saying Jones isn’t a talented corner, but I think he will command too high of a price tag for a team that needs to spend its money more diligently. The Buccaneers have too many needs to spend nearly one-fifth of their cap space on a solid cornerback who doesn’t force turnovers.
The team would be better off signing multiple, cheaper defensive backs like Bashaud Breeland or P.J. Williams to fill out the roster rather than spending top dollar on Jones. If Tampa Bay decides to open up the checkbook for the former Cowboy, it could lead to major deficiencies at other positions of need.