As the 2016 NFL draft finally gets underway, one could imagine former Arizona receiver Cayleb Jones coming down with a case of separation anxiety.
Scouts and evaluators are questioning his ability to separate from cornerbacks. Skeptics are wondering whether he should have separated himself from the UA with a year of eligibility remaining. And Jones has to be struggling to separate fact from fiction at a time of year when it’s practically impossible to distinguish one from the other.
In many ways, Jones personifies the fickle, mysterious nature of the draft. He appears to have all the tools needed to succeed in the NFL: size (6 feet 3 inches, 209 pounds), good enough speed (4.65 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and football DNA (dad Robert played in the league for 10 years).
When Jones declared for the draft in late December, hopes were high. Most initial projections pegged as a mid-round pick at worst. An invite to February’s scouting combine only served to corroborate them.
Now? It’s possible he won’t be the next Wildcat taken after Scooby Wright. Or, if only two Wildcats are selected, they might be Wright and rising safety Will Parks, leaving Jones as an undrafted free agent.
What happened over the past four months to change the perception of Jones, if that is indeed what has occurred?
Sometimes, the more probing NFL teams do, the more they unearth stuff they don’t like.
Earlier this month, Bleacher Report’s lead NFL draft writer, Matt Miller, reported that three clubs had taken Jones off their boards because of concerns about his character. The concerns stemmed from the incident at the University of Texas that led to Jones transferring to Arizona.
Jones was charged with felony aggravated assault after punching a Longhorns tennis player and breaking his jaw. The charge later was reduced to a misdemeanor. Jones pleaded no contest and received two years’ probation.
Miller reported that at least 21 other teams kept Jones on their boards. Perhaps they heard from members of Arizona’s coaching staff, who have vouched for Jones’ character.
“Great character. Not good, but great,” UA coach Rich Rodriguez said. “We coached him hard. He worked his tail off in practice. He did anything and everything we asked of him. … There should be no questions at all about that.”
Said receivers coach Tony Dews: “I had a really good relationship with Cayleb. … Once he trusts you, he’ll do anything you ask. I didn’t have any issues with Cayleb.”
Dews took it a step further, saying Jones became more open and responsible during his three years at the UA. He also became more of a leader in the receiver room and approached school more seriously.
“I never had to get on Cayleb about working hard,” Dews said.
A pro scout told the Star that the incident at Texas isn’t the main reason Jones has slid.
“I don’t think he’s getting buried because of that,” said the scout, who covers the West Coast for an NFC team.
The scout came away unimpressed after studying Jones’ film.
“He doesn’t play fast,” the scout said. “His routes are average. He’s just a big, up-the-sideline receiver.
“When you see him at practice, he’s a good-looking kid. (But) his fluidness and athletic ability, being able to move laterally, you wish all that was better.”
Jones tested well at the combine for a 6-3 receiver who weighs more than 200 pounds. His 20-yard shuttle time of 4.14 seconds tied for seventh among wide receivers. The shuttle tests an athlete’s short-area quickness and explosion.
Scouts and analysts simply didn’t see enough of that from Jones in games. Although he averaged a robust 16.2 yards per catch as a redshirt junior last season, his receptions, yards and touchdowns declined from the previous year (2014 totals: 73-1,019-9; 2015: 56-907-5).
How much of that stemmed from Arizona’s injuries and inconsistency at quarterback is open to interpretation. Even Jones’ final college game presents a puzzling picture: He caught four passes for 182 yards and a touchdown in the New Mexico Bowl — all of it coming in the first half.
Nine days later, Jones entered the 2016 draft pool. Given the direction his stock seems to be headed, did Jones make a mistake?
“Cayleb has ability but really needed another year in school,” said a front-office executive for a different NFC team. “He needed to get stronger, become a better catcher and become a football player. Big project … so you have to wonder if he will ever get there.”
Of course, it’s easy to say that now. It’s also hard to criticize any football player for pursuing a professional path when you consider the violent, volatile nature of the sport.
Robert Jones, Cayleb’s father, declined comment when contacted by the Star. Additional attempts to reach members of Jones’ camp were unsuccessful.
Jones spoke to the media in March after Arizona’s pro day, where his uncle, former NFL quarterback Jeff Blake, served as his personal passer. Jones was asked to describe his objectives during the pre-draft process.
“Just proving people wrong in general,” he said. “So many people doubt me. I’ve been doubted ever since I left UT. People said I’d never play again; I played well here. People are saying I’m not good enough to play in the league, and I’m going to be great.
“I feel like the best is yet to come for me.”
