NFL defensive tackle D.J. Jones has signed a new contract with the Denver Broncos. The 27-year-old will be entering his sixth season in the pros, having spent his first five with the San Francisco 49ers.
Source: The #Broncos agreed to terms with DT DJ Jones on a 3-year, $30M deal with $20M fully guaranteed. Big addition.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2022
D.J. Jones, Denver Broncos, Agree to Contract
At this point, it has become a tradition for the San Francisco 49ers to develop fantastic defensive linemen. D.J. Jones, who has been poking through the cracks the last few seasons, is only the latest product of the 49ers defense. This past season, Jones had a career year, starting every single game along the interior. He posted career-highs in 2021 with 56 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles. Playing along the same defensive line as Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, and more, it is hard for a former day three pick to make a name for himself. Nevertheless, Jones has done exactly that, as his career may just be getting started.
D.J. Jones was drafted 198th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. At 6’0″ and 305-pounds, Jones was not viewed coming out of Ole Miss as a premiere, space-eating defensive tackle prospect. Rather, a stout and athletic player, Jones presented the 49ers with a developmental prospect. Jones spent his first two seasons as a rotational piece, before starting 25 games between 2019 and 2020. He flashed his potential as a pass rusher, posting five sacks, and steadily improved his pass-rushing arsenal. Now, with his first full year as a starter under his belt, Jones may be ready for a breakthrough.
One note about the 49ers defense is how often they rotate their defensive lineman. Jones’ career-high 550 defensive snaps this past season display how he has never been used as an every-down lineman role. Having only been a part-time player in the past, the question is not whether or not he can produce, rather, how he produces in an enlarged role.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
