Is Cowboys safety Byron Jones a draft bust candidate?
Based on his preseason numbers and career stats, Dallas Cowboys free safety Byron Jones is setting up to become the Nick Hayden of safeties.
While all eyes are on our rookie quarterback Dak Prescott making his first NFL start in place of the injured Tony Romo, I’m suggesting we focus elsewhere. You’re part of Cowboy Nation and understand that there are many stories to choose from – running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Alfred Morris or getting pressure without suspended defensive ends Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence. Perhaps a bigger story could be the return of linebacker Justin Durant would be unnecessary if the Cowboys had selected a healthy linebacker in the second round instead of Jaylon Smith.
This tree could branch off into a variety of directions but I’m getting back on my anti-bandwagon from last year – safety Byron Jones – last year’s first round draft pick. You can look at my article history to see that I wasn’t convinced that he was the best available player or the best selection for the Cowboys last year.
It is easy to be critical of safety J.J. Wilcox but he does impact plays because he hits receivers and breaks up passes. It’s easy to be critical of safety Barry Church and his poor pass coverage, but he leads the team in tackles and plays closer to the line. Let’s face it – our defense has been functioning with two strong safeties.
Ideally, I would have preferred to see cornerback Morris Claiborne get moved to free safety. It might have extended his injury plagued career with the Cowboys and given him new life. That’s probably my performance standard for Byron Jones as a safety.
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I’ll give Jones credit when he plays to a level that makes me no longer want to see Claiborne at the free safety position. This is a bold position to take because I don’t trust Claiborne’s football IQ. Until then, I won’t believe that the best man has the job.
Cowboy Nation is pulling for Jones and despite letters, comments and conversations from others, I have to see anything to convince me of his first round talent. Have you seen blazing speed? Have you seen interceptions? He definitely hasn’t out performed cornerback Marcus Peters of his draft class. Want to talk safeties specifically – then he hasn’t played to the level of Tyrann Mathieu. Dez Bryant may need to be in the war room on draft day to help find defensive players that can guard him.
Jones’ unofficial rookie year highlights include popping his kneecap into place and a broad jump during the NFL combine. He hasn’t shot thru any gaps to hit quarterbacks on safety blitzes, he doesn’t meet running backs at the line and receivers don’t fear him when running across the middle. I’m not sure that he trusts hitting opponents with the shoulder he damaged in college.
I visited my brother Stacy Esaw in Dallas and neither of us could recall an impact play from Byron Jones this preseason. I had to check that Jones wasn’t injured and had taken the field this preseason. His stat line: 4 combined tackles, 1 solo, 3 assisted.
I invite you to keep your eyes on Byron Jones and hope that he proves me wrong. Eli Manning and Odell Beckham are going to take shots downfield. Unfortunately, based on his preseason numbers and career stats, Jones is setting up to be the Nick Hayden of safeties.
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