Ranking the Atlanta Falcons top 5 players under 25

Deion Jones

Deion Jones, the uber-athletic middle linebacker was a play-maker and one man wrecking crew all throughout the season. At first glance, Jones’ 221 pound 6’1 frame might peg him as undersized at best. But he possess one trait that Quinn focused in on that he wanted of all of the players on the defensive side of the ball. He wanted them to have speed, something that Jones surely doesn’t lack in. That speed allows Jones to be multifaceted. He has the ability to cover tight ends and running backs in the passing game, while also shifting sideline to sideline in the running game as he chases down ball carriers. His emergence made quarterbacks think twice before delivering passes across the middle of the field.

Per his bio, at atlantafalcons.com, in 16 games, Jones totaled a career-best 138 tackles, three interceptions, and one sack. He was named to his first Pro Bowl, and made a playoff-high 10 stops with one tackle for loss in Atlanta’s Wild-Card win over the Los Angeles Rams. Jones gained notoriety back in December against the New Orleans Saints with two stellar defensive plays. One of his hits resulted in the forced removal of Alvin Kamara with a head injury.  The other was a key interception against Drew Brees in the end zone that helped put the slumping Falcons back in the NFC playoff hunt.