Appalachian State product and cornerback Steven Jones Jr. was one of the 14 undrafted free agents the Tennessee Titans signed in the wake of the 2023 NFL draft.
Jones appeared in 45 games over five years with the Mountaineers, totaling 125 tackles (8.5 for loss), six interceptions, 27 passes defensed and one sack during his time there.
The 24-year-old enters what is a crowded situation that is full of question marks at cornerback, a position that figures to have four roster locks in Kristian Fulton, Roger McCreary, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Elijah Molden.
Jones will be competing against guys like Caleb Farley and Tre Avery for one of the depth spots behind those four, but if all else fails he’ll have a shot at the practice squad, which could prove fruitful given the injury histories of some of the aforementioned players.
In order to get more information on the Appalachian State product, we’ve rounded up some scouting reports to see what analysts had to say about Tennessee’s rookie cornerback.
The NFL Draft Bible, Sports Illustrated
Evaluation:
Smaller corner than whose primary alignment is to the field. Easy athleticism in smaller spaces. Jitterbug feet with smooth hips that can flip in his zone and speed turn. Cerebral player that must love the film room. Quickly interprets formations and concepts. Can sniff out screens and trigger before blockers for downhill tackles. Awareness in the RedZone to pick up later routes after clamping his initial responsibility. Ballhawk that can highpoint the football and doesn’t let his size mitigate his ability to climb the ladder. Obvious vertical leap ability. Hands catcher that will snag the ball. Not afraid to mix it up in the run game. Alignment lends towards many easy completions. Smaller frame shows up as a tackler or against physical receivers. Eyes can be in the backfield too much, leading to big plays over the top and or RedZone. Poor angles as a tackler. Jones is a hyper-athletic and aggressive corner that backs down to no one, bringing consistent effort and intensity regardless of his matchup. His instincts and study skills pop along with his quick movements. A role in the slot or as a nickel defender should best suit him as a professional.
Grade:
5th Round
Cory Giddings, Bleacher Report
POSITIVES
— Feisty player who is ultra competitive. Didn’t back down to any of the competition from the 2022 season.
— Quick feet with very good body control. Keeps a good base and plays with good balance.
— Aggressive against the run. Triggers quickly to what he sees.
NEGATIVES
— Undersized player who lacks both ideal height and size.
— Poor eye discipline at times. Eyes can get locked onto the quarterback for too long.
OVERALL
Steven Jones Jr. Is a scrappy, undersized player who plays bigger than his listed size. He is an aggressive player who has the versatility to play in the slot as well as outside. He has a thin frame, which can show up at times in both the run and pass games, but he is largely able to work through it.
When playing as a pass defender, he excels in coverage. He has a smooth pedal that allows him to quickly get out of his breaks and redirect. When driving on routes, he shows a good burst and does a great job of running through the ball-carrier. While working downfield, he often looks to use his hands to control the receivers and keep close contact. A loose-hipped athlete, Jones does a very good job of sinking his hips to mirror breaks. When the ball is in the air, he does a good job of staying calm and competing at the catch point. Always looking to capitalize on a turnover, he does a good job of settling for the pass breakup when he’s out of range for the interception. Playing mostly on the outside for the Mountaineers, Jones has also shown the ability to move inside and play the slot.
As a run defender, Jones does just as good of a job at competing. He does a great job of making fast reads and quickly triggering the run. He often uses his quickness to defeat blocks close to the line of scrimmage while also making plays on the ball-carriers. Because of his slighter frame, he often chooses to run through the legs of ball carriers, which can lead to missed tackles or extra yards. When in open space, he does a very good job of taking the correct angle and running his feet through contact.
Ultimately, Steven Jones Jr. built up an impressive resume at Appalachian State, and he should be able to translate his skills to the next level. He will most likely have to move inside to playing nickel full-time, but with his skill set, he can add depth to the room as an outside corner. Teams could take a late Day 3 flier on Jones just so they don’t have to get into a bidding war with other teams in free agency.
Tony Pauline, Pro Football Network
Strengths: Feisty corner with plenty of production over the past two seasons. Effective facing the action or backed off the line of scrimmage. Explosive and displays a burst to the ball. Quick flipping his hips, stays with assignments, and knows where opponents are on the field. Works to track the ball in the air and positions himself to defend passes. Fires upfield and breaks through blocks to defend screen passes or running plays.
Weaknesses: Must significantly improve his backpedal and be more consistent when moving in reverse. Slow reacting to receivers’ moves out of his transition, which puts him a half-step behind opponents. Does more hitting than wrap-up tackling, which leads to a lot of yardage off initial contact.
Overall: Jones was a productive cornerback for Appalachian State who broke up 28 passes and intercepted five over the past two years while totaling 96 tackles. He has the size, speed, and ability to be used in dime packages at the next level.
Scouting reports for other Titans rookies
