Jacksonville matt jones

When the Jaguars drafted Matt Jones with the 21st overall pick in , expectations were high that he would become the dynamic, deep threat playmaker that the team so desperately needed the years following the departures of Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith, and the wasted first round picks on fellow busts R.

Jay Soward and Reggie Williams. Jones was an unstoppable athlete at Arkansas during his years as the Razorbacks quarterback, shredding defenses with his strong arm and big plays running the ball. His combine performance was outstanding as well, and it was not hard to fall in love with the guy after he posted a 4. Jaguars fans did not easily embrace the selection of Jones in the first round in , most likely because he had never worked as a receiver in college, and at a time when the Jaguars were so desperate to make a splash in the offseason, taking an unproven receiver in Jones only amounted to more questions being asked about the team's direction.

It was simply too big of a draft year for the Jaguars to miss on their pick, right? Jones, throughout four years, only amassed 2, receiving yards with 15 receiving touchdowns in his short-lived and disappointing career in Jacksonville.

He complied receiving yards in , despite missing the final four games due to suspension for a cocaine bust in the prior offseason. Jacksonville finally cut ties with Jones shortly before the season, due to his second arrest and another violation of the NFL substance abuse policy, this time for violating the terms of his parole due to his prior charge.

The Bengals gave Jones a shot in the offseason and invited him to training camp to try to earn a shot at redemption despite all of his past troubles and headaches he caused the NFL. Jones was simply not in shape and failed to keep up with the veteran wideouts to earn a starting spot, and the youngster Jordan Shipley had a breakout campaign after earning the place that Jones was vying for.

A few years later, when Jones flamed out because of performance and personal issues, the Jacksonville Jaguars had to be kicking themselves. A top high school prospect, Matt Jones grew into a dangerous 6-foot-6, pound dual-threat quarterback. In four seasons at Arkansas , Jones completed Arkansas reached bowl games in and Jones especially impressed on the ground, where he totaled 2, yards and 24 touchdowns on 6.

There have been plenty of success stories involving college quarterbacks switching positions upon entering the NFL. Patriots receiver Julian Edelman is still going strong a decade after moving from quarterback. Terrelle Pryor posted a 1,yard receiving season for the Browns in , a year after he moved full-time to receiver.

Hines Ward split his college career between quarterback and receiver but focused on the latter when he reached the league. The Jacksonville Jaguars wanted to try something similar with Matt Jones. Jones flashed at times in his four seasons with the Jaguars. He recorded catches for 2, yards and 15 touchdowns in four seasons, which is far better than what other first-round busts have done. Jones also caught nine passes for yards and a touchdown in three career playoff games.