Big Cat Country
The Jaguars’ third pick of the 2024 NFL Draft is cornerback Jarrian Jones. Here’s everything you need to know.
With the 96th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Jarrian Jones, cornerback, Florida State.
Background
Consensus rankings via NFL Mock Draft Database; recruiting info via 247 Sports
Stats
Measurables
Analysis
Scouting report from Cory Giddings of Bleacher Report:
Jones does his best work when playing in man coverage. He does a great job staying hip to hip with receivers, has the communication skills to pass off or switch defenders based on alignments and shows very good route recognition when downfield.
Jones is a solid cornerback with versatility to line up across the field. He has the explosiveness and speed to compete in the NFL. While he likely will provide depth in the beginning, he has a chance to compete for playing time as he gets acclimated to the NFL.
Player summary from Dane Brugler of The Athletic:
Overall, Jones has an impressive athletic profile, and his inside-outside experience is a plus, but he plays too reactionary and needs to better pick up on route clues to survive in NFL coverage. He projects as a potential reserve and special teamer.
Prospect overview from Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:
Urgent cornerback with good size and above-average aggression in all aspects of his game. While Jones is all gas from snap to whistle, he can be clunky matching a receiver’s release and has a hard time transitioning through sharp break points without allowing glaring separation. His chase speed is average and he might require help over the top. He does a nice job of anticipating breaks from a shuffle and is effective from zone with a decent burst to close when playing forward. He’s aggressive in run support and battles for positioning in coverage. Jones’ limitations might be mitigated and his strengths maximized as a nickel cornerback playing forward from a zone-heavy cover scheme.
Last word from Brandon Tew of Sports Info Solutions:
Jarrian Jones projects best as a No. 4 slot cornerback who fits best in a press scheme. He has the flexibility to also work on the outside, but he lacks the length and strength to consistently press longer receivers out there. While his reactive athleticism and start-stop acceleration are only at a sufficient level, he shows good transition skills and quickness to beat receivers on the inside. Additionally, he has the high-end speed to stick with just about any receiver down the field. He lacks some zone awareness at times, especially down the field, showing better ball skills and eye discipline closer to the line rather than deep down the field....
