OTL: It Could be Time for a Jones Breakout

In the ever-changing landscape of the National Football League, and the players who make it what it is, there is a year-to-year shift in production that causes any real prognosticating efforts to be proverbial crap-shoots.

Sometimes, a player’s skills just fall apart from one season to the next, which can doom a team if it is a premier position. Other times, a perceived has-been finds one more glorious season in his reserves, or a young player’s switch gets flipped and he turns from project to star.

And, on occasion, a perceived weakness becomes a position of strength — remember Ricky Wagner having a stellar season after replacing Michael Oher, or the Ravens producing the most sacks in the league last year after having their pass-rushers questioned time and time again.

It happens. Human beings are unpredictable.

One player who has been on my radar as potentially making a sizeable leap this season has been Travis Jones, the third-year defensive tackle. According to Pro Football Reference, Jones saw his snap count jump from 324 to 453 from his rookie season to his sophomore campaign.

His tackles for loss went from one to four, and his quarterback hits jumped from two to five, which are increases, to be sure. But it feels like there is still a lot of meat on that bone in terms of where he can go.

Jones, frankly, looks the part. He is big and athletic, and his splash plays look like the kind of plays made by stars on the interior line — think about Justin Madubuike, and how those flashes made you imagine more and more until he finally found his form last year.

I feel like Jones can be the one to make the jump this year.

Defensive line coach Dennis Johnson has been impressed so far this offseason with what he’s seen from Jones.

“You want to talk about attention to detail, that’s how he approaches every day,” said Johnson. “Whether it’s football school or it’s been OTAs, in the meetings; I think he should be [able to have success]. He has to continue to work — which I know he will — but he’ll be in that type of position to have a successful season.”

Jones feels like having players like Madubuike next to him can help his growth, as well.

“I know when ‘Buike goes out there a lot of teams will be focused on him,” Jones said. “I just got to go out there and get mine like he’s going to get his.”

PFF’s Gordon McGuinness also sees potential in Jones, and listed him as one of five Ravens he could see making the leap this season.

“Jones improved from a solid rookie year in 2022 to earn a 68.1 PFF grade on a higher snap count in his second year last season,” wrote McGuinness. “The Ravens coaching staff seemed to lean on him more as the season progressed. Only Justin Madubuike logged more snaps than Jones on the defensive interior in the six games from Week 15 through the AFC Championship game. Expect that to continue into the 2024 season if Jones can continue his upward trajectory.”

McGuinness also listed cornerback Brandon Stephens, running back Keaton Mitchell and guard Andrew Vorhees as potential break-outs in 2024. One other name he listed is the guy I had on my personal shortlist is second-year linebacker Trenton Simpson. He was high on people’s draft boards before his final season at Clemson due to his athletic traits, but dropped a bit after not quite hitting expectations.

But he sizzled in his opportunity late against Pittsburgh last season, and the Ravens felt strong enough about his potential they seemingly let Patrick queen walk this offseason without much of a fight.

“Moving into the spot left by Patrick Queen, who left to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency, Simpson has huge shoes to fill in Baltimore this season,” said McGuinness. “He does not have a huge body of NFL work to evaluate — the 2023 third-round draft pick out of Clemson played just 114 snaps (including the preseason) as a rookie. He flashed impressive ability in an extended run out against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18 though, as Simpson earned an 80.3 PFF grade from 26 snaps and finished the game with three tackles resulting in a defensive stop.”

Also of note:

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