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Buffalo Bills: 2016 Draft Linebacker Options Part II

By Dennis Moody

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Sammy Watkins (Clemson) shakes hands with Roger Goodell after being selected as the number four overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Buffalo Bills at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Sammy Watkins (Clemson) shakes hands with Roger Goodell after being selected as the number four overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Buffalo Bills at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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2016 Draft Linebacker
Sep 12, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA;LSU Tigers linebacker Deion Jones (45) tackles Mississippi State Bulldogs tight end Gus Walley during the second half at Davis Wade Stadium. LSU won 21-19. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

Deion Jones, LSU

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 219 lbs

Projected Round: 3

LSU linebacker Deion Jones was named after the great Deion Sanders by his father Cal according to NFL.com.

Jones was a backup to linebacker Kwon Alexander for his first three years in college. However, he made the most of his opportunities his senior season. He led LSU’s defense with 100 tackles, 13.5 for a loss, 5 sacks, 3 deflections, and two interceptions according to WalterFootball.com. He became captain of the team and was awarded LSU’s Defensive Player of the Year Award.

His play also made him a finalist for the Butkus Award which is given to the top linebacker in college football. He did not win the award which went to Jaylon Smith but it was still quite an accomplishment from a player who was a backup the year before.

Prior to his senior year, he mostly contributed on special teams and did a great job with it.

He is better against the pass than the run. He has great man to man cover skills and pretty good zone coverage skills. When defending against the run he can get a little too aggressive and pursue the runner in the wrong gap.

In the NFL, he projects as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 system. He could even end up being converted to a strong safety for some teams. The type of scheme a team runs on defense will definitely affect whether they are interested in taking Jones in the draft or not which could cause him to slip.

He can be a three-down linebacker in the NFL assuming that his lack of size doesn’t prevent him from being an effective player in the league. He’s a smart player with leadership skills and great athleticism. Overcoming his size seems to be his only major weakness as he prepares for the next level in the NFL.

Next: Joshua Perry

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