In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Texas A&M cornerback Jaylon Jones in the seventh round. Jones was the fourth and final defensive back picked by the Colts and had the opportunity to start his rookie year. While 2023 was a season riddled with injuries in the secondary, it paved the way for Jones to step up and step in. He will have the chance to vie for a starting role this offseason and there is good reason as to why.
Jaylon Jones was able to impact the secondary and be a key contributor to the Colts cornerback room. Entering his second year, he will look to continue to develop and grow. Thus making him an underrated impact player who could be a dark horse for the defense.
Will Jaylon Jones Be a Contributor On the Colts Defense?
A Look into His First Year
Jaylon Jones was a seventh-round draft pick in 2023. During the offseason, it was apparent that the Colts were going to utilize Jones as a depth piece for more experienced cornerbacks. However, when injuries happened, and starters struggled, Jones was called upon to start. In 2023, he appeared in all 17 games and started in 10 of them. In his time on the field, Jones accumulated 33 solo tackles, one tackle for loss, and five passes defended. He was targeted 62 times and gave up a 56.5% completion percentage. He also gave up 10.1 yards per completion and gave up five touchdowns. While these numbers are not stellar, Jones had to cover receivers like Michael Thomas, Mike Evans, DeAndre Hopkins, and Davante Adams.
In a look at some of the metrics of Jones’s first season, he does have one major standout statistic. When going up against man-coverage, Jones had a 74.5% success rate which ranked 15th. What this showcases is that he can match speed for speed and stride with some of the best. One of the keys to being a good cornerback in the league in being able to cover one-on-one in man-coverage. Therefore, having a statistic like this is huge for a young cornerback who has a high upside like Jones has.
A Look into How He Can Make an Impact in Year Two
The Colts are still lacking in their secondary, and many reports suggest that Indy should get a veteran cornerback or safety to help. If Chris Ballard decides to stick with the guys he already has, Jaylon Jones will be a key contributor. The two primary starting cornerbacks for the Colts are veteran Kenny Moore II and second-year cornerback JuJu Brents. Dallis Flowers is entering his third year with limited experience. However, he did showcase that he can earn a starting role. Unfortunately, injuries limited his 2023 season. He is a favorite to be a starter in 2024. This, therefore, leaves Jaylon Jones as a hopeful candidate to take the final starting cornerback start.
In this offseason, Jones will compete with Brents and Flowers but will also compete with Darrell Baker Jr. and a couple of rookies. It should be noted that Jones stepped in for Baker Jr., who struggled at times on the field. Jones will also have the experience advantage over the rookies. Thus making it to where a starting role is His to lose.
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
