2017 NFL Draft: 8 players Chiefs could target in first round
By John McCarty
Sidney Jones, CB, Washington (6-foot-0, 175 pounds, Junior)
If we look closely, we can still see Steelers receivers running freely in the Chiefs secondary. We had hoped that third-year corner Phillip Gaines would be able to recover from his knee surgeryto fill the starting spot vacated by Sean Smith. To this point, he has not. Combine with the bizarre release of KeiVarae Russell and the lack of readiness of D.J. White, and the Chiefs may be in the market for a corner in the first round. My favorite is Washington’s Sidney Jones.
Jones plays the ball very well, getting his head around. Every draft pundit – be it a savvy, experienced professional or an armchair blogger – has their traits they look for. With cornerbacks, they have to be able to find the ball, run in coverage and limit opportunities.
Jones displays an ability, much like current Chiefs and former Huskies cornerback Marcus Peters, to intercept the ball. At times, it appears Jones is the receiver, running the pass route.
The other question about Jones is height. As is known, the Chiefs love tall corners. They view 6-foot-0 as a magical line of demarcation. Also, due to his lack of bulk, how well would Jones be able to help with the run. While he appears to be a willing run defender, it’s certainly not his strength. Tackling, strength and run support will be something he’ll have to improve to truly reach his potential.
If the Chiefs view Jones as a potential starter, he is a player that would be a nice compliment to Peters. His ability to defend the pass would be a welcome change to what we’re seeing now.