How Will S Josh Jones Help the Packers?

The Packers have now turned to North Carolina State safety Josh Jones as they continue to remake their secondary. Jones may not be an immediate starter, but as a second round pick he’ll be counted on to contribute in a variety of ways. Here’s some of what he’ll bring to the Packers.

Secondary Depth

Our series on the Packers’ draft tendencies revealed one very obvious conclusion about the Packers and defensive backs: they like to draft a lot of them. There’s a simple reason for this: you need a lot of defensive backs to make your defense go.

Last year at this time, the secondary was thought to be a position of extreme depth for the Packers. That quickly evaporated with just a couple injuries. Jones brings the Packers another good athlete to stick in the secondary, providing talented depth.

Versatility

It’s no secret that the Packers love versatile defensive backs. Nearly every player on the roster can line up at multiple spots in the secondary, and the now-departed Micah Hyde was the ultimate example, playing safety and corner with equal aplomb.

Jones has experience at both safety spots and even played some slot corner in college and should be counted on to do the same for the Packers.

Burnett Insurance

Ted Thompson always drafts with an eye to the future, and safety Morgan Burnett is approaching the end of his contract. While the Packers would likely be interested in bringing him back, Jones provides some insurance in case that doesn’t happen.