2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Josh Jones

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Josh Jones, 6-1/220 Safety N.C. State

Josh Jones Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Instinctive

Good size/speed combination

Fast defender

Has enough height to defend big receivers, tight ends

Weapon to cover pass-receiving tight ends

Quick

Covers a lot of ground on the back end

Could play some deep center field

Single-high safety potential

Can play deep zone coverage

Showed some nickel man-coverage skills

Reads a quarterback’s eyes

Very athletic

Quick feet

Not tight; loose hips to turn and run

Has ball skills

Soft hands to catch interceptions

Plays the ball well to avoid penalties and smack passes away

Not a gambler

Quick firing to flat or coming downhill

Can be a strong safety, eighth man in the box

Tough run defender

Size to tackle NFL running backs

Special teams coverage potential

Should be able to contribute quickly

Huge athletic upside

Very strong

Dedicated in the weight room

Weaknesses:

Eye discipline needs to improve

Can be overly aggressive

Hasn’t seen some route combinations

Prone to getting out of place from play action

Needs to be more of a wrap-up tackler and not just explosive hitter

Summary: Over the past three seasons, Jones was a tough ACC safety yet largely went under the radar. That is somewhat surprising as Jones made four interceptions and 63 tackles during his redshirt freshman season at N.C. State. The following year, he had one pick and 56 tackles. Jones had a big 2016 season to conclude his college football career. On the year, the junior collected 109 tackles with eight passes batted, one forced fumble and three interceptions.

Jones has the potential to be a real asset in the NFL. He has the speed, size, and enough ball skills to be a single-high deep free safety. As the deep center fielder, Jones can break on the ball well and is a threat to pick it off or slap it away.

Jones is rangy and is adept at making some plays downfield. He is a fast defender who covers a lot of ground in the deep part of the field, yet has the size to battle big wideouts and tight ends. With some development, Jones could have some man-coverage ability to defend the pass-receiving tight ends who cause mismatch problems for most teams. Right now, his off-man coverage on tight ends will need work. With some coaching, Jones could man up on them and should be an asset at neutralizing those kind of weapons.

Jones can be a tough defender against the run as he has the size to tackle and will make some bone-rattling hits. Jones clearly loves to come downhill or fire to the flat to blow up a ball-carrier. With his size and instincts, Jones could be a strong safety type who plays as the eighth man in the box to defend against ground games.

There are a few points of improvement for Jones in the NFL. His eye discipline needs work as play fakes and play action get him to bite. That leads him to taking false steps and getting out of position. Aside from those vision issues, Jones can be overly aggressive, which can work against him at times. Becoming more of a wrap-up tackler is necessary as well.

For the NFL, Jones could be flexible to play strong or free safety. He has the versatility to be an interchangeable safety who flips responsibilities pre-snap. Teams love that kind of safety. In the 2017 NFL Draft, Jones is likely to be a second-round pick, and he won’t last long if he makes it to the third round.



Player Comparison: Mike Minter. Jones reminds me of a bigger version of Minter. Minter was a second-round pick who went on to have an excellent NFL career. He was a tough, physical presence who turned himself into a well-rounded defender. I think Jones could end up being similar in the NFL and also might be a second-round pick.

NFL Matches: Tampa Bay, Houston, Seattle, Buffalo, New York Jets, Atlanta, Carolina, Cleveland, Chicago, Cincinnati, Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh

There are a lot of potential fits for Jones on the second day of the 2017 NFL Draft. The Bears, Chargers, Panthers, Bengals and Bills all have top-10 picks and could use a safety. Jones won’t go that high, but at least three of those teams could be targeting a safety in Round 2 assuming that Jamal Adams and Malik Hooker go in the top 10. Connecticut’s Obi Melifonwu could also go in the middle to late portion of the first round.

Chicago signed Quintin Demps, but could use a safety to pair with him. Jones could interest the Bears if they don’t take a safety at No. 3. The Chargers need a true replacement for Eric Weddle. If they don’t take a safety in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Jones would be a good fit in Round 2. Carolina needs a safety upgrade, while the Bengals really missed not having Reggie Nelson last year. Buffalo has a need at safety as Aaron Williams has an uncertain future due to a neck injury.

The Jets could use an upgrade at free safety and have shown interest in Jones. Tampa Bay needs an upgrade at safety, and Jones would make sense for the Bucs on Day 2. Cleveland needs improved safety play, and Jones would make sense for one of the Browns’ second-round picks or the first selection in the third round.

After losing Quintin Demps, the Texans have a huge need at safety. Jones could be a prime target for them in the second round. The Steelers could use a safety to pair with Sean Davis, and Jones could give them a gifted young tandem. Pittsburgh has been showing interest in Jones, too.

Atlanta could use a free safety to pair with strong safety Keanu Neal.

Sources say the Seahawks love Melifonwu, so perhaps Maye could be in play for Seattle also. Earl Thomas has made some noise about retirement so the Seahawks could start thinking of the future.

2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Jamal Adams, S, LSU Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama Ryan Anderson, LB, Alabama Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado Budda Baker, S, Washington Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee Garett Bolles, OT, Utah Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida Jake Butt, TE, Michigan Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida Pat Elflein, G, Ohio State Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama Dan Feeney, G, Indiana Devonte Fields, OLB, TCU Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M Davon Godchaux, DT, LSU Charles Harris, DE, Missouri Marquis Haynes, DE, Ole Miss Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State Josh Jones, S, N.C. State Sidney Jones, CB, Washington Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss Desmond King, CB, Iowa Kevin King, CB, Washington DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky Marshon Lattimore, CB, Onio State Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan Lowell Lotulelei, DT, Utah Pat Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech Marcus Maye, S, Florida Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State Takkarist McKinley, DE/LB, UCLA Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA David Njoku, TE, Miami Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan Ethan Pocic, C, LSU Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin Haason Reddick, LB, Temple Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama John Ross, WR, Washington Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State Juju Smith-Schuster, WR, USC Dawuane Smoot, DE, Illinois Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina Anthony Walker, LB, Northwestern Demarcus Walker, DE, Florida State DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin Davis Webb, QB, California Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU Marcus Williams, S, Utah Mike Williams, WR, Clemson Tim Williams, DE, Alabama Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida Chris Wormley, DE, Michigan

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