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Bob Sturm: Byron Jones an impressive prospect, but I’m not sure Cowboys made proper pick
Bob Sturm Follow @sportssturm Email sturm1310@me.com
Published: April 30, 2015 11:32 pm
Special contributor Bob Sturm spoke with SportsDayDFW.com shortly after the conclusion of the first round oft the 2015 NFL draft on Thursday night. Here are his thoughts:
On his instant reaction of the Byron Jones pick:
Sturm: “Well they certainly expressed their love for him quite a bit this spring, and so from that standpoint we should not be shocked. I personally could not criticize taking a cornerback because this is a league where quite clearly you can’t have enough of them. And he is a very impressive prospect. That said, it does stick in my head how bad this team needs pass rush and how bad they got to get to the quarterback and really how evident that was in the playoffs when they could not get to a gimpy Aaron Rodgers — and there to see Randy Gregory there and to see even more impressive Malcom Brown from Texas there gives me some level of pause as to whether they made the proper call. As far as Jones goes, I don’t think anyone really disputes his ability, nearly everyone agrees he’s a first-round talent and his tape verifies his gift, his incredible 40 time, his incredible vertical leap — but he’s more than just tools, he can really play. So for me, I can’t be against the move except for the idea that I think there will be solid corners available in the second round, whereas I don’t think strong defensive linemen like Brown and Gregory will be there are No. 60.”
On where Jones fits in with the Cowboys defense:
Sturm: “There’s no doubt he’ll get right on the field. The question is where, and in this league where it’s pretty clear everyone has to assume they need three corners and two safeties just as really full-time players, I think he’ll be in that mix. Now they dropped a few hints that either Jones or (Morris) Claiborne might get some looks at free safety, which seems highly speculative now, but who knows come training camp if they want more of a true centerfield ball-hawk at safety than J.J. Wilcox. But in some form or fashion, I have no doubt that Jones will be on the field for probably six- or seven-hundred snaps if he stays healthy in 2015.”
On what the pick of Jones means for the Cowboys the rest of the draft:
Sturm: “Well I think you still are looking to solidify your defense, and at (pick No.) 60 I would give a lot of thought to defensive line play, although the red meat will probably be picked over. And from there I also need to find a running back, and it didn’t break right in Round 1, but perhaps in Round 2, one of the three second-tier running backs — Duke Johnson, Tevin Coleman, Jay Ajayi — one of them might certainly still be there at 60, and if so I would probably be ready to pounce on that first and foremost.”
On which defensive linemen he envisions might be there at No. 60 for the Cowboys to possibly pick:
Sturm: “Well luckily there are actually quite a few defensive ends that might be there. It’s difficult to predict, of course, but you could definitely see a situation where one of Preston Smith, Owa Odighizuwa from UCLA, Nate Orchard from Utah — I’m sure I’m forgetting a few, but those are the types of players that might be there at defensive end, and then there plenty of talented ends that will still be some impressive there. So I think once we formulate our board for tomorrow, we can both see how they will look. Pick 60 and 91 sure look like they could get some real quality players in what is a really deep draft of top 100 prospects”
On if he was surprised Malcom Brown dropped all the way to No. 32:
Sturm: “I really was. I think he was a top-20 player and the Patriots are the Patriots, and so they just sit there and they fall right to them. I hope that’s not something the Cowboys live to regret but I really like that player.
On what he thought of the rest of the NFC East picks in the first round:
Sturm: “Washington kind of shocked me by going offensive line with (Brandon) Scherff from Iowa. I really think he’s solid, but man when they had a chance to get Leonard Williams, that shocked the heck out of me that they didn’t jump on that. I think Scherff is solid; I think Leonard Williams might end up being the best player in this entire draft, so I really second-guess what the Redskins did. The Giants were always going to go offensive line, so that didn’t shock me. I think they wanted Scherff, actually, but they settled on Ereck Flowers from Miami. I think he has a few holes in his game, but he’s another solid pick. But the Eagles, who dominated the NFL in rumors leading up to the NFL draft, end up picking up (Nelson) Agholor from USC, who I really like in the draft. He’s a versatile and really a devastating return man. Overall you have Jordan Matthews and Agholor — they provide the Eagles with a couple of good weapons on the outside. We know they have good tight ends, and of course hey have DeMarco Murray, so their skill positions are rounding out. I’m pretty shocked they didn’t take Byron Jones there as much as they were linked to that because they definitely need help there in the defensive backfield.”
More Byron Jones
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Name: Byron Jones
Age: 22
Position: Cornerback/safety
Pick: No. 27 overall
College: Connecticut
High school: St. Paul Catholic (Bristol, Conn.)
Ht, wt: 6-1, 199
Notable: Jones helped himself tremendously at the scouting combine by turning in a 12-feet, 3-inch broad jump and a 441/2-inch vertical. He was also exceptional at the Wonderlic test, which measures cognitive ability, reportedly scoring an impressive 33. Jones, a high-character, team leader was nicknamed “Senator Jones” by his UConn teammates. In 37 career starts, Jones finished with 223 tackles, eight interceptions and 18 pass deflections.
