Tag: jaylon jones

How Isaiah Rodgers’ suspension impacts Colts

How Isaiah Rodgers Sr.’s suspension impacts the Colts.

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Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. is expected to receive a season-long suspension from the league for violating the NFL’s policy on gambling.

The news was handed down Wednesday in response to an investigation that raised concerns that Rodgers was part of numerous bets on NFL games, reportedly including some that involved the team.

The expected unavailability of Rodgers casts serious doubt on the strength of the Colts’ cornerback unit. Despite returning veteran Kenny Moore II, the group is fragile regarding experience.

Several players are limited in starting experience, instead having niche skillsets related to special teams. Not to mention, the remaining unit is exceptionally young including this year’s draft class haul of Julius Brents, Jaylon Jones, and Darius Rush.

If the team chooses not to sign a veteran cornerback to replace Rodgers, fifth-round pick Darius Rush could get the nod to start in his place. Rush has elite athleticism with long arms that could help his assimilation into the role. However, asking Rush and several rookies to start in the secondary will be very challenging for the Colts and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.

What could help these young players is a quick, explosive pass rush that can disrupt games and stop passing attacks. The team’s 11th-ranked defense, which produced 44 sacks and a pressure rate of 22% in 2022, will need to step up again to help mitigate the secondary youth. Additionally, this could be a prime opportunity for Kenny Moore to shine.

Before the beginning of last season, he wanted a new contract that matched his belief that not only was he the best slot corner in the NFL, but one of the best in the league, period. This is his chance to prove that as he enters his second year in Bradley’s system. Elite play on the field and accompanying mentorship could help lessen the weight of Rodgers’s absence.

The most important thing for fans to remember is that this will continue to be fluid. The coaching staff will continue to tweak the lineup based on production, matchups, and specific packages. Patience is needed and warranted.

8 players to watch as Colts begin minicamp

Here are eight players to watch as the Colts begin mandatory minicamp.

The Indianapolis Colts are set to begin mandatory minicamp Tuesday at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, which is the final time the team will be together before summer break.

There will be a lot going on during the three days at minicamp, and this will be a great time for players to make a strong impression while building some momentum for when they arrive back for training camp at the end of July.

Here are eight players to watch as the Colts begin minicamp Tuesday.

6 most intriguing position battles to watch at Colts’ OTAs

Taking a look at the most intriguing position battles as the Colts begin OTAs.

The offseason program for the Indianapolis Colts kicked off last month and continues with organized team activities (OTAs) this week.

These activities happen in three phases (May 23-25, May 31-June 2, and June 5-8) and will consist of in-person meetings and dedicated classroom teaching designed to help players improve during the offseason.

It’s also significant because it marks the first time the Colts can run drills between the offense and defense even though no pads or contact are permitted.

As the players reconvene, the evaluation process of the roster begins. It’s a critical time for a young team such as the Colts.

Here are the most intriguing position battles to watch at Colts’ OTAs:

4 things to know about Colts CB Jaylon Jones

Get to know Colts rookie CB Jaylon Jones.

The Indianapolis Colts added more depth to the cornerback room near the end of the 2023 NFL draft when they selected Jaylon Jones out of Texas A&M in the seventh round.

A true junior coming out of College Station, Jones fell a bit during the draft. Most analysts had him projected as an early-to-mid Day 3 pick, and he wound up falling to the seventh round.

Here are four things to know about the 21-year-old cornerback:

1 thing to know about each Colts’ 2023 draft pick

Here is one thing to know about each of the Colts’ 2023 draft picks.

The Indianapolis Colts recently added 12 new players to their roster in the 2023 NFL draft.

Each player drafted is different whether ranging from their background and walks of life to their skill sets on the field.

With that, here’s one thing to know about each of the Colts’ selections in the 2023 NFL draft:

In drafting Texas A&M’s Jaylon Jones, the Indianapolis Colts get a physical corner who thrives in press coverage

After allowing just 94 yards in coverage last season, Jaylon Jones gives the Indianapolis Colts an imposing, physical corner that will thrive in press coverage.

Texas A&M saw all three players that declared for the 2023 NFL Draft hear their names called last weekend, and the Indianapolis Colts saved the best for last by drafting one of this year’s most physical defensive backs.

Cornerback back Jaylon Jones was the last Aggie to come off the board after being selected with the 221st pick in the seventh round by the Colts. Given his 40-yard dash time at the combine (4.57) as well as some questions about his route anticipation, it wasn’t a shocker to see Jones be drafted in the later rounds.

But falling all the way to the seventh? That proved to be a bit of a surprise after many consensus projections pegged him as a sixth-round pick.

Despite whatever flags may have played a part in Jones slipping into the final round, all those criticisms can be rendered moot once he illustrates his value on the field, and the situation couldn’t be better. In joining the Colts, Jones should only thrive in sticking to his strength in press coverage.

Jones is coming off a 2022 season in which was graded 72.3 in coverage per PFF, which marked the highest of a three-year career with the Maroon and White. When allowed to play physically against an opposing wideout, Jones was the epitome of a lockdown corner, as he allowed a grand total of just 94 yards in coverage for the entirety of last season.

The Colts boasted the league’s 11th-ranked pass defense in 2022 (209.9 YPG) while allowing just 9.8 yards per completion. That being said, the backend unit has been the one positional group that has changed the most over the course of the offseason, which means a handful of rookies could potentially step in to compete for meaningful snaps in Week 1.

While second-round selection Julius Brents will likely get a first look at the top of the depth chart, Jones’ size (6-2, 200lbs) coupled with his experience at multiple positions (outside CB, safety, punt/kick return coverage) should warrant consideration for snaps as well.

Whether it be on special teams or when needed on the outside, Jones’ limited yards allowed in pass coverage speaks for itself. He’s a proven lockdown player that can give opposing wideouts fits, and while the 31 other NFL teams may have miscalculated, their loss proved to be the Colts’ gain as the former Aggie should thrive at the next level.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Colts sign 7 draft picks from 2023 class

Seven of the Colts’ draft picks are now under contract.

The Indianapolis Colts signed seven of their selections from the 2023 NFL draft, the team announced Friday.

With the rookie minicamp starting up, the majority of the Day 3 picks are now under contract. Only five of the draft picks remain unsigned, and sometimes this process takes a little time for the players with higher draft capital.

It just so happens that these seven players are the final seven players selected in the draft for the Colts.

Here’s a look at the seven draft picks who signed their rookie deals Friday:

SEC leads college football in total 2023 NFL Draft picks, with three Texas A&M Aggies selected

For the 17th straight year, the SEC led all conferences with a total of 62 players selected in this year’s NFL Draft, which included all three Texas A&M Aggies being drafted.

It’s hard to argue against the claim that the SEC is the best football conference when they keep fielding pro-level talent year after year. If you needed any more proof, look no further than this weekend’s NFL Draft.

247Sports recently noted that for the 17th consecutive year, the SEC led all of college football in NFL Draft picks. For the 2023 edition of the NFL’s premier offseason event, Alabama (10) and Georgia (10), each led the way with a double-digit number of prospects hearing their names called.

13 SEC programs fielded at least one prospect that was selected in the 2023 draft, including Florida (6), LSU (6), Tennessee (5), Auburn (5), South Carolina (5), Ole Miss (4), Kentucky (3), Arkansas (2), Mississippi State (2), and Missouri (1).

Not to be left out of course are the Texas A&M Aggies, who had all three prospects that declared for the draft officially selected.

Devon Achane went No. 84 overall to the Miami Dolphins, Antonio Johnson was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 160th pick, and Jaylon Jones was drafted at No. 221 by the Indianapolis Colts. A common theme shared by all three Aggies is that they arguably slipped farther than they were projected to land heading into this past weekend’s event.

The most notable drop was had by Johnson, who was drafted in the fifth round despite garnering a first-to-second-round projection from many analysts.

Odds are that many will look back on their respective slides in the 2023 draft and laugh once they see the impact the Aggies provide for their new NFL teams. The consensus belief is that all three provide tremendous value in regard to where they were drafted, with the possibility that all three could prove to be draft steals in hindsight. Jones should thrive in press coverage with the Colts while Johnson’s physicality will give a jolt to a Jaguars secondary that ranked 28th in pass defense last season.

As for Achane? Adding his speed to a Mike McDaniel-led Dolphins offense feels absolutely unfair, with the head coach arguably euphoric at the thought of drawing up plays for the draft’s fastest running back.

Even though Texas A&M may not have fielded as many prospects this year in comparison to their conference counterparts, it nonetheless speaks to the talent pipeline out in College Station. The Aggies have a track record of developing top-tier talent for the pros, and all eyes will be on the 2024 draft when it comes to which Aggie prospect will hear their name called next.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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2023 NFL Draft Review: Trio of Texas A&M Aggies could prove to be absolute steals for their teams

With the 2023 NFL Draft in the books, there’s a consensus belief that all three Aggies picks could prove to be absolute steals for their new NFL teams.

The 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone, and in the process, we saw all three Texas A&M prospects that declared go off the board. That feat is impressive alone, but so is the fact that based on the post-draft conversation, there’s a consensus belief that all three could prove to be absolute steals for their new NFL teams.

Running back Devon Achane went in the third round to the Miami Dolphins (No. 84) while safety Antonio Johnson went in the fifth round to the Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 160). Rounding out the trio was cornerback Jaylon Jones, who was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round (No. 221).

But when it comes to where they were selected? That boggled the minds of fans, analysts, and coaching staff alike.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that even he was surprised that Achane was available at No. 84:

“And, yeah, I didn’t think he was going to be there. But that happens every draft and really I was very hopeful for both of our selections, but wasn’t totally positive they’d be there. I’m very excited about that opportunity we had.”

Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News may have been lukewarm on the Jaguars’ overall draft haul, but he loved the Johnson selection as a first-round talent available in the fifth:

“It was then weird to pivot to more tight end and backfield help so early and then reach defensively with Miller, Lacy, and Abdullah. Harrison can start right away, however, and Johnson filled their lone true pressing needing as a first-round caliber safety.”

As for Jones, Rob Paul of With the First Pick was surprised that the A&M corner slipped into the seventh round, but he wasn’t as shocked to see him join the Colts, who will benefit from his press zone and Cover 2 skillset:

“Surprised Jaylon Jones fell this far but not surprised the Colts took him. Big-time recruit with awesome length and is very young. Best in the press-zone as a cover 2 guy. Triggers downhill too.”

A handful of factors could have contributed to each player’s respective slide in the draft. Achane’s size and hamstring injury last year could have played a role, while Johnson’s ambiguous position fit and Jones’ 4.57 40-yard dash may have forced teams to overlook him.

But it’s interesting to see a common denominator with all three players’ post-draft evaluations. So many analysts and scouts feel their respective teams got tremendous value at where they were selected. In essence, all three head to their new franchises as respective “steals” of the draft.

All three should thrive in their new landing spots, and as the 2023 NFL season approaches they’ll have ample opportunities to prove the critics wrong. When they make their respective impact on the field, chances are we’ll be laughing as we look back to where they were drafted.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Twitter reacts to Texas A&M’s Jaylon Jones being selected No. 221 overall to the Indianapolis Colts

Aggie’s corner Jaylon Jones slipped all the way into the seventh round, and Twitter accurately reacted to his shear potential in the league

Texas A&M saw their final declared player taken off the board in the 2023 NFL draft, as cornerback Jaylon Jones was selected 221st overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round on Day 3, as Jones may have landed in the best possible spot to earn substantial playing time during his rookie season.

After his draft announcement, Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher gave his take on what Jaylon can bring to the Colts as soon as next season.

“Jaylon is another tough, smart, physical football player with good length as a defensive back and can play special teams as well,” A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher stated. “He has proven he can play corner but could also figure in as a safety and be a versatile player in the defensive backfield. He is a conscientious player, not afraid to spend time in the playbook and film room to help him improve. The more versatility you have as a player in the NFL, the better your value.”

In three seasons with the program, Jones appeared in 29 games while recording 98 tackles (72 solo) with 12 pass breakups, three interceptions, and one fumble recovery. Jones’ tangibles aren’t issues, as the long-armed cornerback stands at 6-2 and just over 200 pounds, he’ll continue to refine his route anticipation and footwork before taking on some of the best receivers the league has to offer.

Jaylon Jones thrives in press coverage on the boundary, and while Indianapolis finished 11th in pass defense in 2022 (209.9 YPG allowed), Jones’ size and skillset paired with his gritty attitude opens up the possibility to contend for a starting spot as soon as he enters the building.

Aggie fans and Colts media members and fans alike shared their thoughts on the pick!