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Byron Jones should command one of the top contracts in this offseason’s free agency period. Which five teams make the most sense?
Byron Jones is a former first-round pick set to hit the free-agent market for the first time. He’s lived up to the hype thus far, which should lead to him securing a lucrative contract soon.
Jones is one of the more reliable and versatile defensive backs in the league. He can thrive as a safety but makes the majority of his plays at the cornerback position. He’s missed just one game in five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. That level of consistency is hard to beat.
Despite having only two career interceptions to his name, Jones is as good as they come as a cover corner. He sticks with receivers and has garnered so much respect from opposing quarterbacks that they often won’t throw his way. His completion percentage allowed on targets the past two seasons, 52.5 percent and 53.1 percent, prove it.
NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports that Jones could command between $16 and $18 million per year. That would not only make him the highest-paid corner in the league but would help reset the market for players at his position. These five teams make the most sense for him as he looks for a new home.
5. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins became a competitive team down the stretch under head coach Brian Flores. The team managed to win five games of its last eight games on the season.
General manager Chris Grier has the most cap space in the league to work with, in excess of $90 million. That bodes well for Jones, who will certainly get some pretty big offers. Things couldn’t make more sense from a financial standpoint.
The need for a cornerback is there, too. The Dolphins ranked dead last in points allowed and 30th in yardage allowed in 2019, and a large part of that was due to the secondary playing poorly. With Jones in the fold, the defense gets an instant upgrade and a leader to help usher in the next wave of talent.