Towering CB Prospect: Elijah Jones' Path to the Pros

Standing tall at 6'1.5" with blazing speed honed on the high school track, Elijah Jones has all the physical tools to become an impact cornerback at the next level. His journey from a three-star recruit out of Harlem to a First Team All-ACC selection at Boston College is a testament to his drive and development.

Jones arrived in Chestnut Hill in 2018 amid little fanfare, redshirting his first year before earning playing time in 2019. While his numbers were modest those first few seasons, he flashed the potential that scouts drool over - length, athleticism, and a knack for finding the football.

2022 proved to be his breakout campaign, with Jones racking up two interceptions, 13 pass breakups, and earning All-ACC honorable mention honors. He took that momentum into 2023, elevating his game to new heights with a First Team All-ACC selection powered by five interceptions and eight more passes defensed.

His combination of size, speed, and ball skills make him a tantalizing prospect, but Jones’ game is not without flaws. Tightness in his lower body can hinder his ability to mirror receivers through their breaks, and he struggles at times to stay balanced in his backpedal against shiftier route runners.

Still, his press coverage ability is already NFL caliber. Jones excels at using his length and physicality to disrupt timing at the line of scrimmage. When he’s allowed to be aggressive and get his hands on receivers, he can smother routes and make life miserable for quarterbacks.

For the Washington Commanders, who watched veteran Kendall Fuller depart in free agency, Jones could provide an intriguing option to bolster their boundary corners. With Dan Quinn’s heavy use of press-man and Cover 3 schemes, Jones’ strengths aligning with those patterns. His ball skills and playmaking ability could be a welcome addition to an improving defense.

Of course, finding the right scheme fit will be critical for Jones to reach his potential at the next level. He projects best as an outside corner who can use his size and length to his advantage, rather than being tasked with running stride-for-stride with elite separators. The Commanders’ system, with its reliance on physical corners who can be disruptive at the line, could allow Jones to play to his strengths early on.

As the draft process winds down, Jones has already met with the Commanders, Bears, and Chiefs among others. His pro day numbers, highlighted by an impressive 42.5-inch vertical at his size, only reinforce the athletic upside that has teams intrigued.

For the former Harlem track star, the NFL dream is tantalizingly close. If he lands in the right situation that accentuates his physical gifts, Jones has a compelling case to carve out an impact role sooner rather than later. The Commanders could provide the exact scheme fit he needs to hit the ground running.