Benito Jones 2020 NFL Draft Profile

When looking at Benito Jones on tape, he screams potential. The 6’1, 321-pound interior defensive linemen looks like a monster when matched up with smaller offensive linemen, who he completely imposes his will on. Jones possesses all the traits NFL teams value in defensive linemen, making him appear on several draft big boards. His flexibility and competitive toughness paired with his raw power makes him one of the most intriguing defensive prospects found in the latter portion of the draft.

Coming out of high school ranked as a four-star recruit, Jones turned down schools like Alabama and Florida State to sign with Ole Miss University, where he became a key piece on their defense. After shining as a promising young freshman in 2016, Benito Jones never looked back. By his senior year in 2019, Jones had molded into a consistent starter for the Rebels, earning himself a spot on the All-SEC Second Team. Those stats were also good enough for him to be invited to both the Senior Bowl and the Draft Combine. Following a stellar senior season, Jones declared for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Strengths

Possesses short-area speed and elusiveness;

Has the ability to reset the line of scrimmage with his natural leverage;

Possesses more agility than both his film and testing will show;

Capable of stripping-down hand fits off his chest;

Competes well when matched up with double-teams.

Weaknesses

His length and build leaves a bit to be desired;

Doesn’t play through blocks well;

Has awful contact balance;

Lacks explosiveness;

Lacks versatility as far as positions go; A-Gap defender will most likely be the only position he can make his mark in.

Projection: Early 3rd – Late 4th

Bottom Line on Benito Jones

In the end, Benito Jones is a quality prospect who will likely fall in the draft since his position isn’t one that’s highly valued by NFL general managers. Looking at his skillset, Jones has the potential to become a solid rotational piece in a team’s defensive line-up. If he’s paired up with the right defensive coordinator, he could become a major contributor for an NFL franchise. Furthermore, if he’s able to fix some of his weaknesses when he enters the NFL, he could see a potential starting role much sooner than expected. If an NFL franchise is looking for quality depth at the defensive tackle position, Jones should be on their board for sure, especially if they own a mid-round pick.

While Jones doesn’t have a lot of upside as a three-down player, he can contribute to a team in many ways. One of those ways is in the run-stuffing department, where he thrived at Ole Miss. All in all, Jones has the necessary attributes needed to become a solid rotational defensive tackle in the NFL. Of course, that all depends on whether he’s placed onto the right team and into the right situation or not.