Three biggest takeaways from the Dre’Mont Jones press conference
Apr 21, 2022, 6:49 AM
The Denver Broncos had two more players talk to the media on Tuesday. After second-year cornerback Patrick Surtain spoke, it was time for defensive end Dre’Mont Jones to chat with the media. I called Jones the most underrated Broncos player before the 2021 season, but he only flashed last year – and has yet to play up to his full potential.
Jones knows that he must continue to improve his game. Everyone knows he’s got the game, and if he puts it all together then he can be one of the bright spots on the defensive side of the ball.
“First, appreciate (those words), big ‘GP’ (general manager George Paton). I just have to hold up my end of the stick and make sure I’m the best me. I’ve been working my tail off this offseason to get my body right, get my technique down. We still have a long way away, so I’m going to continue doing that,” Jones said.
Here are the three biggest observations from Jones’s press conference.
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Beast Mode
The Broncos added a highly coveted pass-rusher in free agency when they signed Randy Gregory – formerly of the Dallas Cowboys. Gregory is there to get after the quarterback, something he should do early and often this season. With Gregory wreaking so much havoc he will be getting a lot of attention from opponents.
The extra attention for Gregory is going to mean extra blockers will be tasked with slowing him down. That’s where Jones comes in. Jones has a quick first step, and he can cut through the gap before a blocker gets set up. Edge pressure from the likes of Gregory or Bradley Chubb is a must, but interior pressure from Jones would make the greatest quarterback seem mortal.
"Randy Gregory brings a lot of edge, a lot of speed. He's a beast." Dre'Mont Jones #Broncos @1043TheFan
— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) April 19, 2022
Having Gregory on the field is going to make things better for Jones and the other defensive linemen for the Broncos. New defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is going to blitz more than in the past, and that’s good news for Jones. As pressure comes from the outside, whether that’s a cornerback or safety blitzing, the inside of the line will give and opposing quarterbacks won’t have anywhere to go.
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Football First, Contract Later
Jones is in the final year of his rookie contract. A third-round pick out of Ohio State in the 2019 NFL Draft, Jones is on the books with a cap hit of $2.8 million this year. That’s a bargain basement price the Broncos need to take advantage of with a deep postseason run. Jones is ready to “go off” this season, and he’s focused on taking care of business on the field first before off the field business is conducted.
The best defensive ends in this league make around $25 million per year. I really like Jones, but I think he’s looking more around the salary of $8-10 million per year if he plays up to his potential. The defensive ends who get the most money are the ones who compile sacks (see Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns) and that’s not necessarily the level of production Jones is projected to have this year.
"You can't really think about contract stuff. For real. Everyone wants to break the bank, but you just gotta focus on football." Dre'Mont Jones #Broncos @1043TheFan
— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) April 19, 2022
Players usually have strong seasons in a contract year. Jones understands that football is a business first and foremost. If he takes care of business, then the business – in terms of contract – will take care of itself.
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Happy Baby Star
Jones made me LOL when he talked about new head coach Nathaniel Hackett. I couldn’t help myself when Jones said Hackett was like a “happy baby” because of his high energy. It reminded me of a movie treatment my buddy Andrew Garda wrote “Happy Baby Star” and just the visual of a grown man having that type of energy was fun to think about.
Hackett’s energy is infectious. The Broncos have had six players speak to the media so far this offseason, and every single player brings up his energy as one of the main things they’ve noticed about his personality. There is no doubt that things are going to be different under Hackett in 2022. At least things feel different right now, and all of the players have noticed how much their head coach is fired up to coach football.
"Energy. There's a lot of energy in the building. He's almost like a happy baby (Nathaniel Hackett)." Dre'Mont Jones #Broncos @1043TheFan
— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) April 19, 2022
The energy needs to result in wins, but that should happen for the Broncos this year. In fact, I’m predicting a deep postseason run with Hackett running the show. He’s a first-time head coach, but his players seem to love him so far and winning a lot of games will only solidify that feeling. Hackett is like a happy baby, and Broncos fans will be cooing when they see this team on the field in 2022.
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