4 under-the-radar Jaguars targets to watch at NFL Scouting Combine
2. Elijah Jones, Boston College, cornerback
Even though Darious Williams and Tyson Campbell give the Jaguars a pair of quality corners, the team's brass may revamp the position this offseason. General manager Trent Baalke said as much at the Scouting Combine and he's right. Tre Herndon is set to become a free agent but even if they bring him back Williams and Campbell are entering the last year of their respective contracts, so the team may want to start looking for their potential replacement.
One player the Jags have been routinely linked to is Iowa's Cooper DeJean. They could very well take him at No. 17 but they won't be able to give him a closer look at the combine since he won't be doing individual drills. With DeJean out of the picture, for now, Jacksonville could turn their attention to Elijah Jones, a prospect who's garnered lots of praise following an enticing week of Senior Bowl practice.
Jones was a pretty productive cornerback at Boston College the past two years, registering seven interceptions and 21 passes defenses. Moreover, he gave up a 48.3 passer rating when targeted last season. The 2023 First-Team All-ACC won't wow scouts with his speed but his length and overall ball skills should get the Jaguars' attention.
Boston College CB Elijah Jones (#1, bottom of screen) might be one of the best at finding the ball in traffic, shedding the block, and attacking the ball.
— Brian Lamb (@brianlamb_ISN) February 27, 2024
He can struggle a bit in coverage downfield, but would love him as late-round depth at nickel pic.twitter.com/35sGLP7Qqb
At 6'1" and 184 pounds, he excels at diagnosing plays and tracking the football in the air. Lance Zierlein of NFL Media believes that teams that value ball production could see him as a CB3 with upside. In the Jags' case, they could target Cooper DeJean or any of the top cornerback prospects at No. 17 and later take Jones in the third or fourth round.