In the third round of the 2019 NFL draft, the Broncos took the University of Ohio State’s Dre’Mont Jones.
As an interior defensive lineman for the Buckeyes, Jones would redshirt his true freshman year but then immediately see the field the following year, playing in a total of twelve games. Jones would go on to have a breakout season as a junior where he would have 43 tackles and 8.5 sacks, before entering the NFL draft.
Coming out of college, Jones was known as a developmental prospect with great pass-rush ability. His fluidity and quickness in the middle of the defense was a rare trait that many teams would covet as the modern NFL offense has become so pass-centric.
With that being said, he was not a perfect prospect. Many were concerned with his run defense, as pad level and play strength were areas of concern at Ohio State. All too often Jones would lose gap integrity, opening holes for opposing running backs.
Once in the league, this stayed consistent. Jones flashed as a pass rusher but struggled against the run. His natural ability was evident but this weakness made him one-dimensional, forcing head coach Vic Fangio to play him primarily on passing downs.
Going into this past season, Fangio acknowledged this concern, laying out how Jones can get more time on the field by stating, “Just the ability to play the run in there against the running games that we’ll see and especially the one we open up with, in Tennessee, who runs the ball extremely well and strong and powerful—he’s got to be able to show that he can hang up and hang in there with it.”
Jones did not disappoint as he took major steps in the right direction against the run. Putting on a bit of weight and improving on his technique, Jones looked more like an every-down defensive lineman.
With more opportunity, Jones would shine as a pass rusher as well. Finishing the 2020 season with 6.5 sacks in just 13 games, he was a force for the Broncos’ interior defensive line.
Prepping for a big Dre'Mont Jones year. pic.twitter.com/CAV41J6ye2
— Joey Richards (@JRDrafts) May 12, 2021
As we enter this season, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about Jones and his potential to have a breakout season. That is especially true considering his improvement since entering the league.
This was shown on both his game film and the stat sheet as he took substantial steps in almost every statistic. Pro Football Focus also took notice as his player grade jumped from 66.9 in 2019 to 74.7 in 2020. This improvement from year one to year two bodes well for what we could see in the near future.
If Jones continues to refine his game, he could easily sneak into the league’s upper echelon of interior defensive lineman.
Last season, the Broncos entered the year with a pretty crowded defensive line group. Up until his injury, Jurrell Casey was a new addition to the team, pushing Jones to come off the bench as a situational lineman. Only starting eight of thirteen games made available limited his opportunities.
This season, Casey is gone and Jones has a clear path to the starting role for the Broncos. With even more playing time, Jones has the chance to really flourish in his role.
As a player, his versatility could be well utilized for the Broncos. Jones has the ability to play multiple techniques upfront, giving Fangio the flexibility to be creative with his defensive line. Whether it be from the edge or the defensive tackle position, Jones is smooth enough to generate a pass rush from almost anywhere.
Sheesh DreMont Jones. pic.twitter.com/D7NTaLFhes
— Joey Richards (@JRDrafts) September 15, 2020
With Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, and Shelby Harris all back and healthy for the 2021 season, the Broncos pass rush could be scary for opposing quarterbacks. Jones’s’ pass rush ability from the interior of the defensive line could greatly help others on the team by pushing the pocket, making it tough for the quarterback to step up. This can either affect the throw of the quarterback or allow Miller and Chubb a greater chance at creating pressure off the edge.
A pass rusher’s best friend is good coverage. The Broncos have invested heavily into their secondary this offseason and look to be one of the better coverage groups in the league. If this holds up, Jones will have more than enough time to get after the quarterback.
Jones has already shown Broncos fans how good he can possibly be but with continued improvement in his game, he has the chance to be one of the better players at his position in the NFL. With an expanded role and a great supporting cast, Jones’s’ talent will shine in 2021.
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May 14, 2021 at 01:22AM
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Can Dre’Mont Jones become one of the leagues best interior defensive lineman in 2021? - Mile High Sports
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