An in depth and complete scouting report and draft prospect profile of Clemson Nickel Sheridan Jones for the NFL Draft.
Prospect: Sheridan Jones
School: Clemson
Age: 22 (23 of Draft Day)
Sheridan Jones Measurables:
- Height: 6’ (Pro Day)
- Weight: 184 (Pro Day)
- 40: 4.67 (Pro Day)
- 10 Yard Split: 1.61 (Pro Day)
- Vertical Jump: 34.5” (Pro Day)
- Broad Jump: 10’2” (Pro Day)
- 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.4 (Pro Day)
- 3 Cone: 7.14 (Pro Day)
- Other Notes:
- Measured in 6 lbs lighter at Pro Day than ESPN had listed
Tape Watched: 2022: Syracuse; 2023: Miami, Florida State, NC State
Prospect Grade: 58%
Projected Draft Day: Rounds 4-5
Player Comparison: Less athletic Kyler Gordon
Sheridan Jones Player Summary:
The Positives
- Smart zone coverage player
- Jam is pretty good
- Made a great adjustment on his lone pick against Miami this year. Looked exactly like the one combine drill
- Quick trigger coming downhill
- Smooth low pedal
- Footwork good, not great
- Pretty good tackling
The Negatives
- Struggles to stay with WRs out of breaks
- Slightly better in 2023
- Hips look tight at times
- Speed in question
Side Notes:
- Despite his size, Jones can play some linebacker (emphasis on the some). When we went and watched his 2023 tape, it looked like Clemson would move their nub side CB into the box to play as another backer. It looks like Sheridan is capable of reading keys and the backfield, and has a good understanding of run fits/gap filling.
- Can’t confirm, but we believe he got benched in the Florida State game.
Sheridan Jones is going to be a very solid Day 3 pick for someone in April. We believe that he will make a transition into a nickel defender at the next level. As mentioned in the side notes, he can make some backer reads, he was also blitzed at Clemson and has a quick trigger coming down hill. It just feels like a good fit for him. He’s a good coverage, especially zone, player with good not great footwork. He struggles a little with staying with WRs out of breaks, although it was better in 2023. His hips look tight at times, and his speed is in question, but overall he will find a home and make an impact.
Updated 4/24/24:
- Pro Day numbers added to measurable portion of profile
- Grade switched from “55%” to “58%”
- Projection switched from “Day 3, Fringe Day 2” to “Rounds 4-5”
- Comp switched from “Elijah Molden” to “Less athletic Kyler Gordon”