When Taiwan Jones entered the 2015 NFL Draft, he was viewed as one of the top linebackers in the country set to be available in professional football's annual rookie meat market. Only Jones, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound playmaker who developed a reputation for being a "card-carrying tough guy" during his time at Michigan State, ran a couple of 40-yard dashes during the pre-draft process that would be considered slow even for some offensive linemen. As a result, Jones wound up going undrafted and ultimately landed with the New York Jets as a priority free agent. And while Jones didn't manage much in the way of production during his rookie NFL season - he was promoted from the practice squad in December, but didn't appear in any games - it sure sounds like the Jets are thinking big for the former Spartan standout.
Hearing NY Jets like Taiwan Jones & believe he could be the future replacement for David Harris. Terrific LB who ran a poor 40
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 26, 2016
As Pauline notes, of course, those poor 40 times - 4.88 and 4.82 at his Pro Day - sunk Jones like a stone. But Jets head coach Todd Bowles sounded a surprised tone when discussing the fact that the "heady" linebacker went undrafted.
"I was surprised Taiwan Jones from Michigan State wasn't drafted," Bowles said after the draft, according to Gang Green Nation. "He showed some good stuff on film. He's a thumper. He's a pretty heady ballplayer coming in and I was kind of happy to have him when I saw him just because I thought he was getting drafted. No knock against the rest of them, but that's what I saw, he's one of the guys I looked at."
Jones may have timed poorly and does lack instincts in pass coverage, but he's the kind of downhill 'backer that may fit perfectly in the middle of Bowles' defense next season or in the future. For the time being, the 32-year-old Harris will continue to man that spot, both due to his production - Harris finished 2015 with 108 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 4 passes defensed - and his contract - he has two years remaining on his recently extended deal at cap hits of $7.5 million and $6.5 million.
But after 2016, Harris' deal no longer carries a dead cap penalty, meaning that the team can walk away without any lost money, allowing Jones, should he prove ready, to take over that vital role in the middle.
