Colts’ rookie 7th-round selection has held his own as the team’s starting cornerback

The Colts have found another diamond in the rough regarding rookie ‘Day 3’ cornerback Jaylon Jones.

Jaylon Jones, a rookie cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts, was essentially taken off the radar when he joined the team for training camp and the preseason this year after being chosen in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

He was once viewed as a long and athletic developmental cornerback who might be able to stay on the active roster due to his special teams work before maybe developing and one day earning a probable rotational role, even in a young Colts secondary.

But Jones’ unexpected rise this offseason gave the Colts the confidence to waive Darius Rush, a second-round selection in 2023, who was selected in the fifth round.

Isaiah Rodgers’ season-long suspension (and subsequent release) along with injuries to Dallis Flowers and fellow rookie (2nd round pick) JuJu Brents have forced Jones into a starting role, regardless of whether he was prepared for it at first.

Thus far, Jones’s exceptional performance throughout the offseason has carried over into the regular season.

The Texas A&M freshman cornerback has made four starts in his first season and has held his own, rising to the occasion and challenges presented.

There could be some underlying coverage figures that aren’t quite as impressive.

Specifically, Jones has been targeted 23 times for 117 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns, 3 pass breakups, 13 receptions (56.5% completion percentage), and an NFL passer rating of 99.4 against. Nevertheless, the rookie cornerback has performed admirably and hasn’t at all been a problem or weak link for the Colts secondary, which is severely thin.

He and a few other players selected by the Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft seem to have a bright future.