Brandon

Jones

The report comes from the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. The Broncos are now without three safeties following Brandon Jones’ Friday hamstring strain, though Jones is expected to return in two weeks. Bolden’s initial NFL dreams were dashed by a torn meniscus suffered at his 2023 pro day. He played in seven games with the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks this season, earning a 68.2 PFF defense grade for his efforts. Bolden functions primarily as a box safety but has some free safety versatility.

The training staff has yet to determine the injury’s severity but the Broncos are already in a tough spot at safety. The front office released four-time second-team All-Pro S Justin Simmons this offseason and both S Caden Sterns (patellar tendon) and S Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) are currently on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. P.J. Locke is the only active Broncos safety who logged triple-digit defensive snaps last year, though he worryingly earned a 55.2 PFF coverage grade.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, Jones’ deal is worth $20 million, with a chance for him to move up to $22.5 million. The former Dolphin totaled 48 tackles and two interceptions last season and should have a chance to step in and replace Justin Simmons, who the team made a cap casualty last week. Jones was a third-round pick of the Dolphins back in 2020 and has started 30 of the 54 games he’s appeared in for his career.

Jones suffered the injury Sunday night against the Steelers. It’s a blow to an injury-riddled Dolphins secondary graded by PFF as the league’s fifth worst. Miami’s secondary should be as vulnerable as any in the NFL for the remainder of the season.

And with that, Miami officially puts pen to paper with their entire draft class. Jones (5’11/198) was a four-star recruit and three-year starter at Texas who earned second-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior. He moved across the defensive formation but was best away from the line of scrimmage where his overaggressiveness would bite him. A decent athlete with high-end competitiveness, Jones should be a nice special teamer in the NFL and could compete for a starting spot at box or free safety. His 86 tackles in 2019 were among the best in the safety class, but he’s just average when the ball is in the air.

Jones (5’11/198) was a four-star recruit and three-year starter at Texas who earned second-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior. He moved across the defensive formation but was best away from the line of scrimmage where his overaggressiveness would bite him. A decent athlete with high-end competitiveness, Jones should be a nice special teamer in the NFL and could compete for a starting spot at box or free safety. His 86 tackles in 2019 were among the best in the safety class, but he’s just average when the ball is in the air.

Jones (5’11/198) was a four-star recruit and three-year starter at Texas who earned second-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior. He moved across the defensive formation but was best away from the line of scrimmage where his overaggressiveness would bite him. A decent athlete with high-end competitiveness, Jones should be a nice special teamer in the NFL and could compete for a starting spot at box or free safety. His 86 tackles in 2019 were among the best in the safety class, but he’s just average when the ball is in the air.

Zierlein writes that in the NFL, the 5-foot-11, 198-pound Jones will “likely be pegged as a two-deep or single-high free safety due to man coverage limitations but above-average speed.” The analyst is ho-hum on Jones’ field instincts, referring to them as “just average.” A strong showing in testing at the combine would have been helpful, but Jones opted not to take part in said testing. With his pro day now up in the air due to coronavirus circumstance, the lack of combine tests could end up problematic on some boards.

Jones (6'0/205) was a mainstay in the Texas secondary this season, starting all 12 games and accounting for 86 total tackles (4.5 for loss), 1.0 sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and seven passes defensed. The senior safety also had a 53-yard punt return to his credit, but he was used in that capacity sparingly in 2019. Jones has been projected to be a Day 2 selection, and solid testing numbers at the Combine would go a long way towards solidifying his status.

Jones (6'0/205) made ten starts last season, with the hard-hitting safety accounting for 70 tackles (5.5 for loss) two interceptions and three pass breakups. While known as a player who can arrive on the scene with bad intentions, Jones does have some strides to make when it comes to playing the football according to Brugler. “He is a good-looking athlete with enough speed to run with receivers, but Jones often struggles to locate the football and disrupt the catch point,” Brugler wrote in his breakdown. At this stage, Jones projects to be a Day 2 selection.