Tag: jaylon jones

Introducing the Colts’ 2023 NFL draft class

Colts fans, here is your 2023 NFL draft class!

The Indianapolis Colts have concluded their selections in the 2023 NFL draft, and now we can sit back and look at the class in its entirety.

Looking to reset the organization, the Colts brought in a potential franchise quarterback in the form of Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick. After addressing some major needs on Day 2, the Colts added a ridiculous amount of depth with elite athletes across the roster.

In total, there were 12 selections overall—a record for general manager Chris Ballard. That broke the previous record during Ballard’s tenure from the 2018 class (11).

From the QB1 to their final pick in the seventh round, here is the 2023 draft class for the Colts:

What the Colts are getting in CB Jaylon Jones

Here’s what the Colts are getting in CB Jaylon Jones.

Chris Ballard worked to find a solution for his cornerback group with the NFL draft this offseason. After selecting Julius Brents and Darius Rush, he tipped his toe back in with a seventh-round selection of Jaylon Jones out of Texas A&M.

It’s his great size that is a trait that the Indianapolis Colts are betting on with him standing at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. He’s not the greatest with his athletic testing but he got good grades across the board and his RAS score ranks as the 269th-best cornerback prospect since 1987.

He uses his size to his advantage to close down passing lanes and has the short-area quickness to read and react to make a play on the ball.

Just like with Brents and Rush, he can help out in run support which fits what the Colts want from defenders in their defense.

He’s a three-year starter that also has the versatility to play safety. Jones also played on punt and kick coverage teams during his three seasons at Texas A&M. His struggles come in when dealing with refined route runners that can create separation and speedy receivers that can blow by him if he can’t get his hands on them.

For a late Day 3 pick, Indianapolis is getting a cornerback that has great size, and playing experience, and at worst can contribute on special teams in a backup role.

Texas A&M cornerback Jaylon Jones selected No. 221 overall in the 2023 NFL draft by Indianapolis Colts

And that makes three Aggies selected in the 2023 NFL Draft! Texas A&M cornerback Jaylon Jones rounds out the trio after being picked No. 221 overall by the Indianapolis Colts.

And that officially makes it three Aggies heading to the NFL! With the No. 221 pick in the seventh round of the 2023 draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Texas A&M cornerback Jaylon Jones.

Jones spent three seasons with the Maroon and White, appearing in 29 games and tallying 98 tackles (72 solo) with 12 pass breakups, three interceptions, and one fumble recovery. He’s a big, long cornerback with imposing size though as he transitions to the NFL, he’ll look to continue to refine his footwork and route anticipation.

Indianapolis finished 11th in pass defense in 2022 (209.9 YPG allowed), and while Jones may not enter the door on day one with a chance to compete to be a starter, you can’t script a more ideal situation for him to develop his skills.

A big congratulations to Jones as well as the Colts, who will surely benefit from his physical skill set and tenacity in press coverage. Gig’Em!

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: Colts select CB Jaylon Jones with No. 221 pick

BREAKING: The Colts selected CB Jaylon Jones with the No. 221 pick.

The Indianapolis Colts selected Texas A&M Jaylon Jones with the No. 221 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

The third cornerback drafted by the Colts in this draft, Jones is a young cornerback prospect who just turned 21 years old. He lacks long speed after posting a 4.57 in the 40-yard dash, but he added a 38-inch vertical and 10-foot-2-inch broad jump.

Jones showcased some solid ball skills while working on the outside as a three-year starter for the Aggies, recording 17 passes defended and three interceptions across 32 starts.

Jones is a really physical player, and it will be interesting to see if the Colts don’t try him out at safety as well considering his size and willingness to compete as a run defender.

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2023 NFL Draft: Day 2 mock draft roundup

The experts weigh in on who the Minnesota Vikings might take on day two of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The first round of the 2023 NFL draft is in the books and there is a ton of talent on day two available for teams to grab.

Earlier on Friday, I released a full mock draft for day two and there was really good talent coming out at the beginning of round three.

Who do the experts have the Vikings taking with their singular pick at 87th overall in round three?

2023 NFL draft: Devon Achane, Antonio Johnson, and Jaylon Jones are absolute steals in Day 2

The second round of the 2023 NFL draft begins Friday night, and three Aggies remain on thing board possessing tremendous value moving forward.

The first round of the 2023 NFL draft was chaotic, to say the least, as a litany of trades, two running backs being picked inside the Top 15, and quarterback Will Levis’ nightmare scenario of being completely left out of the first 32 picks coming true while ESPN took full advantage of recording his misery after every pick.

For Texas A&M, Day 2 was always the predicted landing spot for running back Devon Achane, and safety Antonio Johnson, though Day 3 is the most likely landing spot for cornerback Jaylon Jones, this will all transpire based on how the draft falls for every participating team.

Devon Achane, whose standout metric remains his 4.32 40-time at the combine, was mocked towards the end of the first round according to three publications before Thursday, but for the majority, his value remains in the second or third round, and any team lucky enough to land him is getting one of the fastest and most versatile athletes in the entire class with the ability to contend for a starting spot in the backfield, while immediately contributing on special teams.

Antonio Johnson’s journey to the draft has been filled with ups and downs from a scouting perspective, as his elite tangibles (6-2, 198 lbs, 32 1/8″ wingspan) coupled with his versatility in coverage stand out tenfold, questions regarding his athleticism most likely kept him out of the first round, but that doesn’t mean that multiple teams didn’t at least consider taking him late. Either way, Johnson is an absolute steal in the second round for a team in need of a hybrid defender who excels near the line of scrimmage with the ability to cover tight ends in space. I expect Jonson’s name to be called very early on Friday night.

Last but not least, cornerback Jalyon Jones’ value will be tied to a team’s specific need as the position, mainly on the boundary due to Jones’ size, standing at 6-2, 200 lbs, with a 30 3/4″ wingspan. However, his 4.57 40-time has left many teams questioning his fit against faster receivers on the outside, but one stat will always stand out as teams continue to evaluate his potential, as Jones only allowed 94 yards in coverage during the 2022 season with the Maroon and White, so let’s just say that the numbers speak for themselves. I’ll stick with the consensus prediction that Jones will most likely land in the fifth round, but hey, anything could happen on Friday night.

Good luck to all three young men this weekend! Gig ‘Em!

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 Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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How to watch every Texas A&M Aggies prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft is here! We have the breakdown on when and where you can watch all the Aggies hear their names called this weekend.

To anybody else, it may feel like your typical late April weekend, but to others, it feels every bit like opening up presents on Christmas morning. The 2023 NFL Draft has officially arrived, and a warm celebration to all those who celebrate!

This year’s event, which will take place at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, will see 259 of college football’s top prospects hear their names called as they prepare to begin their professional careers. Three of this year’s potential draftees hail from Texas A&M.

Antonio Johnson, Devon Achane, and Jaylon Jones all declared for the NFL draft following successful stints in College Station. Given that the Maroon and White is ranked among the top schools in drafting talent to the NFL, all eyes will be on where this year’s trio of Aggies land in the draft.

Here’s everything you need to know to watch the NFL draft this weekend, including the most up-to-date projections and high-level analysis for each of Texas A&M’s draft prospects.

Where do experts believe Texas A&M’s Jaylon Jones will be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft?

With a resume that boasts three years’ worth of collegiate experience, here is where the experts are predicting Jaylon Jones will land in this year’s draft.

The 2023 NFL Draft is just days away as the next generation of stars looks to hear their names called in Kansas City. Among them is Texas A&M’s Jaylon Jones, but where do the experts and analysts predict he’ll be drafted come this weekend?

The consensus predictions have the Aggies cornerback being drafted in the fifth round, with his projected overall ranking clocking in at No. 138 overall. With NFL franchises always looking for depth in the secondary, there remains an opportunity for Jones to climb up the boards for the right franchise.

Below are a few of his projected landing spots and teams, as well as our breakdown and analysis.

At 6-2, 200 lbs, with a 30 3/4″ wingspan, Jones has the size and length to be an imposing defensive back in the NFL, but questions lie around his footwork and technique as he makes the transition. With a 4.57 40-yard dash at the combine, teams may have some hesitations around his long speed when covering speedy opposing receivers.

Still, Jones will have every opportunity to compete for a backup spot and will likely see time on special teams, hence his projection of being drafted either in Rounds 4 or 5. Additionally, a potential move to safety could be a possibility for him as well.

Being drafted in Round 3 feels a little bit of a stretch at this point, so joining the Chiefs, Bengals, Jaguars, or Falcons in Round 4 feels more practical. Jacksonville (28th), Cincinnati (23rd), Atlanta (25th), and Kansas City (18th) all boasted defenses that ranked below average against the pass.

While Jones may not come in as a bonafide DB1 at the start, he could absolutely make the most of some roster competition through camp.

Jones also brings veteran experience as a three-year starter for the Maroon and White, and with the exception of the Falcons and Panthers in the aforementioned teams, everyone else listed is expected to contend for a postseason spot. Those franchises likely won’t opt to throw a raw prospect out there in the fire.

If Jones’ experience can give him an edge through the draft evaluation process, hearing his name called in the middle of the seven-round draft could prove to be a blessing if he gets the opportunity to play for a competitive franchise to start his career.

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: Alex’s final 7-round projections for Chargers

Find out how Chargers Wire’s Alex Katson thinks the 2023 NFL draft will play out for Los Angeles.

We are just one day away from the beginning of the 2023 NFL draft, an event bound to unite Chargers fans everywhere in their optimism about the future of the team.

(Okay, maybe not. But it will at least shift the talking points to something else.)

With 24 hours to go, here’s my crack at what the Chargers could do over the next three days. Keep in mind that while this is a predictive mock, it’s naturally influenced by a number of biases – familiarity with certain players, the big board on the mock draft simulator I use, things I would like to see the team do even if they bend tendencies a bit, etc. Now that we have that disclaimer out of the way, you’re not allowed to yell at me. Let’s get into it.

Trio of Texas A&M Aggies selected in CBS Sports’ newest 2023 NFL Mock Draft

With less than a week away from the 2023 NFL Draft, CBS Sports unveiled their latest 7-round mock which features a trio of Aggies being selected.

With less than a week away from the opening night of the 2023 NFL Draft, 259 collegiate football players will soon learn where their professional careers will begin. Until then, it leaves ample time for us fans to squeeze in a few more mock drafts to take in, analyze, and pick apart.

Texas A&M has a trio of Aggies that are a part of the 2023 NFL prospect group, and in the latest mock from Josh Edwards at CBS Sports, all three will hear their names called during this year’s annual event.

Here’s where the three Aggies landed in CBS Sports’ latest mock:

The Broncos’ secondary is already headlined by All-Pro corner Patrick Surtain II, and drafting Johnson would give Denver’s 12th-ranked secondary (210.2 YPG allowed) a nice jolt of physicality. PS2 is an otherworldly talent on the outside, and Johnson would give defensive coordinator Vance Joseph his nickel corner of the future.

Over in the NFC South, the Falcons’ backfield was already scary in 2022 after finishing second in team rushing (159.9 YPG). Atlanta’s run game has a nice duo in Cordarrelle Patterson and Tyler Allgeier, but Patterson is 32 years old, and adding Achane alongside Allgeier could give the Falcons their running back tandem for the foreseeable future.

Despite making the AFC Championship game for the second consecutive season, Cincinnati’s 26th-ranked pass defense (234.2 YPG allowed) can very much improve, and adding Jones would add some welcome depth, and competition, to that backend group.

At 6′ 2″ and 210 lbs he brings size, length, and physicality to a secondary that seems destined to play against talented signal-callers for a while into the future (looking at you Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills).

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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