Dolphins Select S Brandon Jones: Instant reaction

Breaking down the selection of Texas safety Brandon Jones

Alain Poupart | Apr 24, 2020

Kevin Jairaj-USA Today Sports

The Dolphins stayed with the defense with their third pick Friday, their only selection in the third round, by taking University of Texas safety Brandon Jones.

Jones is the second defensive back the Dolphins have taken in the 2020 NFL draft, as he joined first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene.

While Igbinoghene figures to play a significant role on defense as a rookie, Jones' role might be more of a special teams contributor in the early going as well as provide some depth at safety.

The Dolphins' current group of safety features veteran Eric Rowe, Bobby McCain, Montre Hartage and Adrian Colbert, who the Dolphins re-signed in March after they declined to extend him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent.

Jones contemplated entering the 2019 draft as an underclassman after receiving a good report from the NFL's draft advisory committee but returned to Texas for his senior season because of optimism for what the Longhorns could accomplish.

Jones had 86 tackles in 2019, including 4.5 for loss, to go along with two interceptions.

After the selection of Jones, the Dolphins now have taken three offensive and three defensive players in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Tua Tagovailoa, Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt are the offensive draft picks, while Igbinoghene, Raekwon Davis and Jones are the defensive picks.

Published Apr 24, 2020

ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.