New England Patriots 2016 NFL Draft Review, Grades
By Hal Bent
Second Round: 60th overall pick
CB Cyrus Jones, Alabama
Grade: A-
The New England Patriots were linked to Alabama cornerback Cyrus Jones throughout the entire pre-draft process. The Patriots never really replaced long-time slot cornerback Kyle Arrington after he was let go after the 2014 Super Bowl and signed with Baltimore. Last season saw cornerbacks Logan Ryan, Tarell Brown, Justin Coleman, Rashaan Melvin and safeties Tavon Wilson and Patrick Chung manning the position at one time or another.
Jones will compete with Justin Coleman and Darryl Roberts in training camp for the primary nickel cornerback position. The job is not going to be handed to Jones as Coleman exceeded expectations last season playing well in the third cornerback role before injuries slowed him. In addition, Darryl Roberts, a seventh round draft pick in 2015, was a star of training camp before injuring his wrist in the first preseason game and ending up on injured reserve.
5 things you should know about Cyrus Jones
Many commentators keep harping on the fact that Jones at five-foot-ten and 197 pounds is a bit undersized as a cornerback. However, he is the same size as the presumed starters in 2016, Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler. On the tape from his time at Alabama, Jones likely caught the New England scouts’ eyes with his physicality at cornerback playing as a press corner. Jones is a solid coverage cornerback, capable of covering outside or in the slot.
If the Patriots were looking just for a cornerback in the Ryan/Butler mold, Jones slots in with a little less physical gifts than Butler and a pinch more athleticism than Ryan. What makes him even more valuable is his value as a special teamer. Jones was a kick and punt returner for four seasons in Alabama and led the country with four punt return touchdowns as a senior. Taking the pressure off of Julian Edelman (or Danny Amendola if he is not cut) in the return game is huge.
According to ProFootballFocus.com Jones was eighth in the draft class at +12.6 overall rating among cornerbacks last year. He missed only three tackles last year and was the top cornerback at Alabama covering the opponent’s number one receiver. Having played for Nick Saban, Jones will be familiar with concepts of the New England defense.
Cyrus Jones should compete to play in the slot in 2016 before replacing or pushing Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan on the outside. While most teams see Jones’ value in the slot, New England has never shied away from smaller, more physical cornerbacks on the outside. Jones fits with the current crop of cornerbacks as young, aggressive in coverage down the field, physical at the line of scrimmage, and able to help out in the running game.
Jones may not have been a great pick in other defenses, but in New England he is perfect piece to add to a young and deep secondary.
Next: OL Joe Thuney, North Carolina State