Like every one before it, the 2005 draft was full of surprises.  It had its share of players fall and fall, like Derrick Johnson to the Kansas City Chiefs or Aaron Rodgers to the Green Bay Packers.  But one thing that hasn’t been a surprise lately, seeing several wide receivers selected in the first round. 

Braylon Edwards went to the Browns, as expected.  Surprisingly enough, the Lions spent yet another first round pick on a receiver with Mike Williams.  The Vikings sought their replacement for Randy Moss, selecting South Carolina speedster, Troy Williamson.  The Ravens got their receiver in Mark Clayton and the Falcons in “Roddy” White.  The biggest surprise of the day had to be Jacksonville, with their 21st pick, when they took former Arkansas QB-turned-WR, Matt Jones. 

Every draft seems to have a fast riser and hot commodity.  Prior to the 2005 draft, it was Matt Jones.  The experts had a difficult time predicting where Matt Jones might be selected.  Would he be a day two draft pick, or could he somehow squeeze his way into day one?  Beginning with the Senior Bowl, all the way through the combine in Indianapolis, everything changed for Matt Jones, as his value skyrocketed overnight and kept climbing.

As April 23rd drew near, most draft pundits had Jones going near the end of the first round to Pittsburgh, even some predicting the Eagles might take a shot at him.  It wouldn’t matter in the end though, as neither team had the opportunity when Jacksonville sent their card up to Paul Tagliabue, and the Jaguars made Matt Jones their first round choice with the 21st pick overall in the 2005 draft. 

Early into his rookie season in the NFL, Matt Jones was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule, once again to speak with us at DraftBoardInsider.com.  We discussed his draft experience and how life in the NFL has been for him thus far.

DraftBoardInsider.com:  You hear all of these stories on what it’s like on draft day for players.  What was it like for you?  

Matt Jones:  It was cool.  I had a lot of people down there supporting me and I was definitely glad the draft got over as early as it could for me.  You have all that time building up to it, but were definitely glad when Jacksonville selected me at 21, that my whole draft process was over.

DBI:  I imagine the waiting was the hardest part of it all, but what was it like to finally get “the” call?

MJ:  The hardest part was not knowing what team you’re going to go to and you know that there is going to be a change.  You go from being in college and then all of a sudden you are going to move and then start over somewhere else and that’s probably the hardest part.

DBI:  You’ve played quarterback for such a long time, from high school and all through college.  What is it like to have Byron Leftwich throwing to you?

MJ:  It’s pretty cool, you know, getting to see Byron play at Marshall and seeing all the other players you watched growing up and then you actually get to come up here and play with them.  So it’s pretty cool to get that opportunity.

DBI:  With the emergence of Antonio Gates and now you, there has been a lot of buzz lately with players that have played basketball.  How would you say the game of basketball has helped you most in playing football?

MJ:  I think that the game of basketball helps players with their quickness.  Going up against basketball players is different because they are a little smaller, so they’ll be a little quicker.  So I think that it definitely helps the taller guys move their feet and be a little quicker.

DBI:  It’s been an amazing ride for you so far, Matt.  When you look back what is the memorable moment for you so far?

MJ:  I don’t know, so far.  Just the opportunity for me to play in the NFL and play with such a great organization down here in Jacksonville has definitely been a blessing.

DBI:  There are a lot of kids who dream about being an NFL Player.  Now that you’ve accomplished that, what is next for Matt Jones? What goals have you set for yourself?

MJ:  Hopefully we can win a Super Bowl.  I hope we can get to the playoffs this year and keep building this team and try to win a Super Bowl.  So hopefully we can do that, and that would be awesome.  Not everybody gets that chance and it would be a great blessing to win a Super Bowl.

It’s easy to see how much Matt Jones loves this game.  It’s just as easy to see, as an athlete, how blessed he is and that he will have an impact in the NFL in time.  He’s already shown all of us glimpses of what he will be able to contribute to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He’s a player who brings prototypical size with game breaking speed to the wide receiver position.  At 6’6" and 229 pounds, you can see why the Jaguars were so intrigued with Matt as a player.  If you buy into the dynamic athlete that Jones is, with that quickness to get downfield, that height to be the big target and those hands to win the jump ball, being the 21st selection becomes less surprising when you consider the task for team and their new offensive coordinator of improving an offense that struggled last season, and mightily in the red zone.

Jones had some doubters, and I’m sure a few remain to this day, but I’m convinced the Jaguars got themselves a fine player ― a playmaker.  All one needed to do was watch the Jaguars during their pre-season games to see Matt Jones sprinting down field, making his one-handed catches to understand just how this kid is special.

For now, Matt is playing the slot position.  In the early going, he’s averaging a mere 2 catches a game, while he works through his transition of playing a new position in a new league.  It’s apparent that he’s happy to contribute by playing anywhere on the field, as he lives out one dream ― playing in the NFL.  I suspect that role and that contribution will only get bigger.  And who knows, as that happens, maybe we’ll see him live out yet another dream ― helping his team win a Super Bowl.

Matt Jones Playing for Today, Working for Tomorrow – Fred Pasek, 10/16/04