The Green Bay Packers selected UCLA defensive end Datone Jones with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Jones is rated as the No. 36-best overall prospect and No. 5 defensive end in this year's draft class by SB Nation's Dan Kadar.
Bruins Nation on Datone Jones
As NFL offenses are developing more spread formations and more athletic QB's are changing the game with the read option offense, defenses will start looking for more athletic D linemen, and fewer immovable blocks of lard. Those players are going to be obsolete and players like Jones with a great combo of strength and speed are the future. Jones is entering the NFL at the perfect time.Jones put up impressive numbers last season on top of being one of the Bruins' strongest vocal leaders in the locker room. Through 14 games, he had 6.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. Jones is big at 6'4, 283 pounds, and showed an excellent burst off the line despite his size.
Green Bay needed to add another player that can rush the passer along with Clay Matthews, and Jones certainly fits that bill.
In a scouting report, Brett Kollman of Battle Red Blog praised Jones' potential, but also pointed out that the defensive end is still very raw:
One of Jones' major drawbacks in college was that despite having lots of natural athleticism, he never seemed to be able to harness it through technique and discipline. He would often misplace his initial contact, not have any counter moves available if he got beat immediately, and his swims, rips, and spins were all very unrefined. I remember on a few occasions from the 5-tech, he tried to throw a club swim on the edge despite not yet having proper hip position and he was completely taken out of the play with one punch.
Combine results
Height: 6-4
Weight: 283 lbs.
Hand size: 10 inches
Arm length: 32 3/4 inches
40-yard dash: 4.80 seconds
Vertical jump: 31.5 inches
Broad jump: 112 inches
Bench press: 29 reps of 225 pounds
20-yard shuttle: 4.32 seconds
Jones was on a path for stardom early in his career, earning playing time and two starts during his 2008 true freshman season. He was productive as a full-time starter during his sophomore season, but then was forced to redshirt his 2010 junior season due to a fractured foot. Jones returned as a starter in 2011 but was quiet, picking up just 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in 14 games.
Jones' returned to the spotlight with a big senior season, however, and earned second-team All Pac-12 for his efforts. His 19 tackles for loss were tied for the 12th-most in FBS Division football last season.
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