BREAKING: Broncos’ $30 Million DT bids farewell with Proposed Trade to NFC North Contender
Through the first three games of the 2024 NFL season, the Denver Broncos have solidified their status as one of the league’s top defenses, ranking 3rd overall heading into their Week 4 matchup against the New York Jets on September 29.
Despite recording 11 sacks over the first three games, including 7 in their Week 3 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, defensive tackle D.J. Jones has had a quiet start to the season, with only 7 tackles and 1 QB hit.
Bleacher Report analysts Matt Holder and Alex Ballentine believe Jones could be a prime trade candidate for the Broncos ahead of the November 5 trade deadline.
Ballentine speculates the Green Bay Packers, contenders in the NFC North, as a potential landing spot for Jones. He also mentions the less likely scenario of Jones being traded within the AFC West to the Los Angeles Chargers, a rare in-division move.
“Defensive tackle has been an issue for the Packers, with Kenny Clark dealing with an injury and the rest of the group underperforming,” Ballentine writes. “(Jones) would be a good addition, given his versatility on the interior defensive line, playing everywhere from nose tackle to 4i-technique. He could serve as valuable depth if another player struggles.”
Jones Played Way Into Big Payday in Denver
Standing at 6 feet tall and weighing 305 pounds, D.J. Jones first made a name for himself at East Mississippi Community College, where he helped secure back-to-back NJCAA national championships. After his junior college success, Jones transferred to Ole Miss for two seasons before being selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 6th round (No. 198 overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein praised Jones for his “freaky combination of power and athleticism,” comparing his playing style to that of Grady Jarrett, though noting Jones’ larger size. Zierlein added that while Jones showed flashes of potential on tape, his production was inconsistent. However, if a coach could bring out more consistency, Jones had the tools to excel as a one-gapping nose tackle with the ability to play all three downs.
Jones began his NFL career as a role player for his first two seasons with the 49ers before earning a starting role. In 2021, he signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with San Francisco and enjoyed the best season of his career, recording 56 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and 10 QB hits.
His breakout season earned him a significant payday, as the Denver Broncos signed him to a three-year, $30 million free-agent deal in March 2022.
Broncos May Not Want to Mess With Chemistry
The Broncos might be reluctant to trade D.J. Jones, as it could disrupt the chemistry of a defense that’s currently performing at a high level following their first win of the season against the Buccaneers.
Out of Denver’s 11 sacks through 3 games, 10 have come from their edge rushers, which could partly be due to Jones holding his own against interior offensive linemen. His ability to occupy blockers on the inside may be freeing up space for the edge defenders to get after the quarterback. This contribution, though less flashy in the stat sheet, is something to consider before making any trade decisions.