Datone

Jones

Jones was a late add from the market in mid-August, ultimately failing to standout during camp. It’s hard to imagine him making an impact in 2020 since he was also released from the Jaguars during final cuts of 2019. Jones, 30, was the Packers’ first-round choice in 2013.

Jones isn’t a lock to make the roster, but he’ll compete for a depth spot on the interior. The Raiders have needed defensive line help for a decade and have actually invested into the trenches over the last few offseasons.

It’s the first we’ve heard from Jones since he was released by the Jaguars in August. The former No. 26 overall pick with the Packers, Jones barely missed the bubble with Jacksonville on final cuts weekend. He has a chance to make an impact as a reserve this season.

The former No. 26 overall pick of the Packers, Jones was actually drawing a ton of praise in Jaguars camp and had been closing in on a roster spot as the “big end” backup to Calais Campbell. Jones also blocked a field goal in the preseason finale Thursday. The Jaguars are just so deep up front.

Jones made just one appearance for the Cowboys last season before landing on injured reserve with a hamstring issue. The 2013 first-round pick of the Packers has eight total appearances over the past two years.

The ex-Packers first-rounder made one (brief) appearance this season. He will be cut loose with an injury settlement if he gets healthy before the year is through.

Jones, who goes a squatty 6-foot-4, 283, repped 225 pounds on the bench 29 times, posted a 9-foot-4 broad jump, and leaped 31 1/2 inches vertically. The Combine workout is roughly as expected. Though somewhat limited athletically, Jones plays with a relentless motor and was highly productive for UCLA coach Jim Mora, registering 19 tackles for loss and 6 1/2 sacks as a senior.

They finally replace Cullen Jenkins. Jones (6-foot-3 7/8, 283) totaled 13.5 career sacks, 36.5 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles as the lynchpin of UCLA’s defense, playing both 3-4 end and three-technique tackle. Jones has short arms (32 3/4") not unlike 2012 first-rounder Melvin Ingram, but plays with aggression and active hands. Jones showed short-area explosion at the Combine with a 1.63 ten-yard split, also repping 225 pounds 29 times. Greg Cosell has compared Jones to a smaller Richard Seymour. He’s going to be primarily an inside pass rusher for a Green Bay team looking to get bigger and more physical on defense.

UCLA’s final exams do not end until Friday, June 14. Franklin will be allowed to participate in this weekend’s rookie minicamp, but he’ll miss the other OTAs and the full-squad mandatory minicamp on June 4-6. Fellow rookie Datone Jones, however, can be in Green Bay for all offseason work because he graduated from UCLA last year.

The Packers believe they’ve finally found Cullen Jenkins’ replacement in Jones, who can rush the passer and play stoutly versus the run from a variety of D-Line positions. Based on his tape study of Jones at UCLA, NFL Films’ Greg Cosell has predicted Jones “will develop into a better pass rusher in the NFL than he was in college.” Jones will be Green Bay’s starting right end on base downs.