Green Bay Packers: A Scout's Take on Cornerback Byron Jones

The 2015 NFL draft is coming up fast. We are closing in on a little over two weeks to go, as the draft begins April 30.

When the Green Bay Packers make their early-round selections, there seems to be a reasonable chance that the Packers will focus on defense. The team's two biggest needs are at inside linebacker and cornerback.

Whom the Packers might select is another question, however. It all depends on the draft board that Ted Thompson and his scouting staff have put together.

At the cornerback position, the top names mentioned in the recent mock drafts on NFL.com include Trae Waynes of Michigan State, Marcus Peters of Washington, Jalen Collins of LSU, Kevin Johnson of Wake Forest and P.J. Williams of Florida State.

There is now another name that is appearing in some of the mock drafts' first rounds among the cornerbacks. That would be Byron Jones of Connecticut.

Why is that?

It's mostly due to his workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine and also his pro day at Connecticut.

At the combine, the 6'1", 199-pound Jones had a broad jump of 147 inches, which is now a world record according to this report from Bryan Fischer.

Jones also had an outstanding vertical jump of 44.5 inches at the combine.

Jones didn't run the 40 at the combine, but he did on his pro day. Jones didn't disappoint either. The former Huskies star ran a 4.40 in the 40 according to Chase Goodbread.

Those workouts seem to have Jones ascending the draft boards.

In his four-year career at Connecticut, Jones had 222 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, eight interceptions (one for a touchdown), 21 passes defended and one fumble recovery, which was also a touchdown.

I wanted to get a professional read on Jones from NFL scout Chris Landry.

I had that opportunity last Friday on 620 WDAE's Steve Duemig Show, which was hosted by JP Peterson.

Landry talked about Jones' recent workouts.

"Byron Jones is the same player he was at Connecticut," Landry said. "He just happens to be a freakish, phenomenal athlete. Like a 45-inch vertical jump guy.

"He's explosive and fast. He's got size and balance. He doesn't play to that type of explosiveness. I had him as a 6.0. Mid-second-round value. That's what he is.

"Keep in mind, everyone is going to have between 18 and 23 first-round pick grades. So, just do the math. You are going to have a dozen or so players or more who are second-round grades who will go in the first round.

"He could be one of them. I think he's over-valued there, but he could be."

Could Jones be a cornerback whom Ted Thompson might consider in the first two rounds of the draft?

To me, the answer is definitely yes.

Jones has the size and speed that Thompson is looking for. Remember, Thompson has never drafted or signed a cornerback who was shorter than 5'11".

It all depends on the Packers' draft board. They will pick the player who has the highest grade on their draft board at pick No. 30 in the first round.

Could that player be Jones?

Perhaps. But he may be a bit over-valued there, as Landry points out.

That being said, the only value that matters is the one that Thompson and his scouting staff have assigned to a prospect like Jones in this draft.