Cornerback was a position that the Bills were supposed to be perfectly fine at, but after a serious injury to Tre’Davious White, that all changed. White wasn’t close to the same guy until late in the 2022 season, and a full offseason of work will help him greatly there. But, beyond White, the Bills had up-and-down seasons from the rest of the crew at corner.
The two main guys returning next year, other than White, are veteran Taron Johnson and second-year pro Kair Elam. While Elam had some moments, he also didn’t look as ready as many thought he was going into the pros. Johnson, meanwhile, was great in coverage but a huge liability against the run and in tackling.
That’s why the Bills go with the best player on the board right here with Texas A&M’s Jaylon Jones. At 6-foot-2, Jones brings a physical presence to the cornerback room. He is a big defensive back with plenty of physical prowess; something needed in this secondary.
While he has faced some excellent competition at wide receiver over his time playing in the SEC, Jones is going to bring the other intangibles. He’s tough, strong and wraps up well. He plays the run better than a lot of corners in this draft, and that’s what makes him so attractive here. Jones comes in and will compete with everyone not named Tre’Davious for a good chunk of playing time.