4 Jaguars that most prove in 2021 they deserve another contract

3. Sidney Jones, cornerback, Jacksonville Jaguars

It feels as if Sidney Jones has played in Jacksonville for years but the truth is that he signed with the team this past year. In fact, he appeared in just nine games with six starts, but he quickly carved a niche in the Jaguars defense even though he joined them once the season had already started.

Jones was one of the top prospects ahead of 2017’s draft. However, he suffered an Achilles tear during Washington’s Pro Day and ended up sliding to the second round, where the Philadelphia Eagles took him. At the time, the pick looked like a steal. The cornerback could rehab during his rookie campaign and get acclimated to the pros, basically a quasi redshirt year.

Alas, the former Huski kept dealing with injuries throughout his tenure in Philly. To make matters worse, when he was available, he was a healthy scratch. After three seasons, the Eagles had had enough and moved on from the cornerback. He then latched onto the Jags and quickly became a key cog in their secondary. You might have even heard some argue in favor of giving him a contract extension but injuries ended up derailing his season.

This Jacksonville team still liked what they saw and brought him back on a one-year deal this offseason. Things are different this time though. Last year, he got a starting job basically by default. In 2021, he will have to compete for playing time, as the team added Shaquill Griffin and Tyson Campbell this offseason. If he manages to stay healthy — something he hasn’t been able to do — his odds of getting a new deal will increase significantly.