Football's Future
Mock Drafts
Top 50 Prospects
NFL Draft Forum

Matt Jones TE/WR Arkansas 6’6 242
By: Robert Davis

Matt Jones is one of the truly special athletes in the entire country. You don’t find too many two sport athletes in the SEC, which is what Matt has done, playing football and basketball for the Razorbacks. At the QB position as a sophomore in 2002, Jones passed for 1,592 yards, while completing 52% of his passes for 5 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. As a junior his numbers improved, completing 57% of his passes for 1,917 yards, and 8 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Again showing improvement, as a senior, Jones passed for 2,073 yards and 15 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Maybe most impressive, in his four years on the field, Jones ran for over 2,500 yards and 24 touchdowns as a quarterback. His passing numbers are not real impressive, but since he’s projected to tight end in the NFL, it doesn’t tell the whole story about how good he is as a prospect.

There are few athletes like Matt Jones at his size. His athleticism allows him to project to tight end or receiver position in the NFL, because he doesn’t have what it takes to pass the ball at the next level. He is huge, strong, and plays with a lot of aggression on the field. Despite his size, he has very good straight line speed.

Jones doesn’t have a position at the next level. His size is that of a TE, his straight line speed that of a WR. But he doesn’t appear to have the agility to play WR at the next level. He is a long strider, and that hurts him when he has to make a series of cuts to get open. He may struggle against defensive backs if asked to play receiver. No matter what position he plays, he is very raw as he hasn’t played any spot at a high level of competition other than QB.

Jones is intriguing because of his physical gifts. Some may say he’s the epitome of a workout warrior, raising his stock solely on his post season efforts. People considered him a day two project pick during the season, but after workouts, some rate him as a first rounder. I think his best position at the next level is as a receiving tight end, because I do not think he has the ability to come in and out of cuts quickly enough against NFL Defensive backs. He will likely hear his name called in the second round somewhere, but some team may reach even more and take him at the end of the first.

Submit your comments on our NFL draft forums.