Jacksonville made a move that caught some by surprise on Monday, as just ahead of the final roster cut date, it decided to trade backup cornerback Sidney Jones IV to the Seattle Seahawks in return for a sixth-round pick. Jones joined the Jaguars’ practice squad last September after the former second-round pick was waived by the Philadelphia Eagles after three seasons.
He joined the active roster last September and played in nine games, six of which were starts. Jones was arguably Jacksonville’s best defensive back during that part of the season as he totaled a career-best 26 tackles.
With the return of Henderson and the additions of Shaquill Griffin and Tyson Campbell, Jones was likely to be relegated to a backup role in 2021, and he had struggled in the preseason. The decision to move on from him and add a pick makes a good deal of sense, and that’s why CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani gave the Jags’ a “B” for the trade. Meanwhile, Seattle received just a “B-.”
Let’s not beat around the bush. What this deal hinges on is the health of Jones. If he struggles to stay healthy yet again, then the Jaguars clearly win this deal. After being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft and playing just one game in his rookie season, a hamstring issue hampered Jones over his next two seasons. So much so that he was released by the Eagles before the start of the 2020 campaign. Jones was even injured in his “breakout” season for lack of a better descriptor.
The Jaguars have CJ Henderson back healthy and then acquired former Seahawk Shaquill Griffin in free agency. Jones was going to be a depth player — and the Jaguars have some young talent at the position. Plus, acquiring a sixth-round pick is better than a seventh-round pick.
Jones had the most success while playing on the outside last season, but he struggled after starting in the nickel in the final preseason game on Sunday. He isn’t a great fit for what the Jags are trying to do in the secondary, and now they have even more draft capital in the future.
Jacksonville currently has four sixth-round picks in the 2022 draft, but the pick acquired from the Gardner Minshew II trade is conditional and will become a fifth-rounder if Minshew is involved in 50% of Philadelphia’s plays in three games this season.