Is Byron Jones NFL 1st-Round Pick?

Byron Jones didn't participate in every drill at last weekend's NFL Combine, but what he accomplished in the broad jump and vertical leap was enough to get every scout, coach and general manager's attention.

Not only are NFL teams scurrying to do more homework on Jones, who UConn coach Bob Diaco has been talking up since this summer, at least one mock draft expert thinks Jones could be a first-round pick.

And to be clear, we don't use "mock draft expert" lightly; in this day and age, everybody has a mock draft. But NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah is a former NFL scout, and one of the most knowledgeable draft commentators. It's noteworthy that he likes Jones.

In his Feb. 25 mock draft, Jeremiah has the Eagles selecting Jones with the 20th pick.

"Jones put on a show in Indy, but he's much more than a workout warrior," Jeremiah wrote "He was a four-year starter at UConn with toughness and smarts. That fits the Chip Kelly profile."

This is the first time we've seen Jones mentioned as a first-rounder. The cornerback class isn't particularly deep; Michigan State's Trae Waynes, Washington's Marcus Peters and LSU's Jalen Collins were widely considered the best draft-eligible cornerbacks heading into the combine, but that could certainly change in the coming weeks and months.

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