The decision by new Miami Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones to sign with the team in free agency was one that was based on a trio of factors that point to brighter days ahead for the team.
Former Cowboys CB Byron Jones on why he signed with the Dolphins: “It was just the prospect of being a part of a team that’s building and going in the right direction. I like the young roster and I like the coach, so for me it was just a good fit.”
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 26, 2020
At 6-foot-1, Jones has the size and also brings shutdown capability at the cornerback position after having played his first five NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.
Jones has been a durable corner who can play every down, a valuable commodity in a league that’s often embraced specialization in lineups.
In addition, the fact that Jones arrives in the prime of his career gives hope that he’ll be a key part of the Dolphins’ defensive resurgence for this year and beyond.
Jones is hoping to bounce back from what could be considered a down year in 2019, when he managed to collect only 46 tackles and knock away just six opposing passes. That’s in contrast to his 67 tackles and 14 pass deflections from the year before.
Despite the decline in numbers, Jones ended up signing a five-year, $82 million deal with the Dolphins that makes him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
That steep price was too much for the Cowboys, who also had to be concerned with new deals for players such as Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper and Robert Quinn.
The enthusiasm that Jones has for joining the Dolphins stems from the fact that Dolphins head coach Brian Flores was able to focus on the long road ahead following a brutal start. Miami’s defense allowed 30 or more points in a game 10 times, but the team won five of its last nine contests.
With Jones and Xavien Howard manning the corners and a stronger pass rush on tap, those opposing point totals figure to shrink. Howard made the Pro Bowl in 2018, but knee trouble last season limited his effectiveness.
A greater infusion of youth onto the Dolphins’ roster, a stronger belief by players in Flores’ vision and the addition of players like Jones will hopefully coalesce into a contending team when the 2020 regular season ends.
