Thanks to the acquisition of Quandre Diggs and the selections of Marquise Blair and Ugo Amadi in last year’s NFL draft, safety won’t be a huge area of concern this offseason for the Seattle Seahawks.
However, Tedric Thompson’s release does open up a spot for a depth addition, and with both Neiko Thorpe and Akeem King potentially leaving via free agency, the Seahawks could also use more help on the special teams.
Enter Texas’ Brandon Jones.
Jones is a versatile defender with experience at both safety spots and at the nickel corner position. He’s an extremely aggressive, physical defender who likes to bring the hurt and excels coming downhill at offensive players – all traits that speak directly to Pete Carroll’s heart.
However, Jones is a liability in man coverage, and he lacks the frame to be a big-time hitter on a consistent basis, like Kam Chancellor or Bradley McDougald.
His speed could make him more of an asset as a single-high safety, or even a nickel in zone coverage, but his most likely role at the next level is as a core special teamer.
Jones flies down the field and displays excellent open field tackling ability, which makes him a near perfect fit for a gunner role in kick or punt coverage. Factor in his versatility on the defensive side of the ball, and it’s no wonder the Seahawks met formally with him at the NFL combine.
Jones shouldn’t be a high priority for Seattle, who first needs to find a pass rush and some offensive pieces, but he would add a key component to this team’s defensive depth and special teams – which is an area Carroll likes to focus during the NFL draft.
