6 options at cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2022 NFL Draft
5. Marcus Jones (Houston)
- 23-years-old
- 5-foot-8, 185 lbs
Marcus Jones has a ton of skill and agility; the only issue Jones will have when it comes to being drafted is his size. Being only 5’8″ could become a problem against these 6’0″+ receivers that are often found in the NFL.
It could make Jones a liability in certain aspects, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see him slip further than projected. Now, something that jumps off the screen with Jones is his ability to make plays, along with being a game-changing returner on special teams. That could be something that raises his stock.
He is a known slot corner, so Cincinnati wouldn’t need him to come in and instantly start but learning behind one of the best slot corners in the league in Hilton could be very beneficial to Jones. Maybe Cincinnati will see that if they still haven’t gone cornerback by round three or four, Jones could be viewed as an option.
In 2021, Jones had his best collegiate season where he recorded 40 tackles, five interceptions, four return touchdowns, and recorded a QB rating when targetted of 60.4. Jones is probably the best kick, and punt returner in the entire draft class could be an essential reason he goes higher than many of the other cornerbacks in the draft class.
In addition, he has a lot of versatility that he can bring to many NFL teams. That’s why the Bengals should be eyeing him as an option.