Dre'Mont Jones a D-Line Alternative

The report Daron Payne is 99% certain of receiving a franchise tag from Washington removes the best defensive tackle from Bears consideration, unless they want to surrender a pair of first-round picks to try and sign him anyway.

That would be a very big unlikely.

This situation could even keep them from trading down in the draft. If they want defensive tackle Jalen Carter as a possible alternative, they'd risk losing him by picking behind Arizona.

Will Anderson Jr. would be a player they definitely can use instead, but he's not a three technique and coach Matt Eberflus has made it clear how important the position is to his defensive scheme.

"We call it the engine that makes everything go because in the running game, you can’t run at the three and you can’t run away from him,' Eberflus said. "So it’s hard to really dictate where you’re going to run the ball, No. 1, and it creates a lot of free lanes for your linebackers to run through in the run game."

They could have their three technique in free agency, anyway.

Javon Hargrave, 30, is a possible shorter-term option but if they want one who could be an answer for years ahead then there is potential Denver free agent Dre'Mont Jones.

There are rumors Jones could also be tagged, but nothing with any level of certainty like the reports about Payne.

The Broncos are $8.5 million under the salary cap and a more here or there can get them into position to tag Jones, but as a team with a new coaching staff under Sean Payton do they really want to start by being up against the cap because of one player, especially a defensive player? That doesn't seem likely.

From the Bears standpoint and a humorous standpoint, it would mean adding a fifth Jones to their roster: Velus Jones Jr., Braxton Jones, Jaylon Jones and Justin Jones. How many Joneses can a team have?

From a more serious standpoint, the Bears need to be sure Jones really is a fit in their scheme. He wouldn't be like Payne, who can line up at nose or the three technique because of his size.

With Denver, Jones has been playing end in Vic Fangio's 3-4 base scheme. A 3-4 end in that scheme is not an edge player but essentially a defensive tackle. The Broncos also rushed four in passing situations. So Jones does have experience playing some of the time in a way he would be playing all of the time in the Bears scheme.

And he has rushed from different places on the line of scrimmage, which is a plus.

Jones looks like a player who would benefit by being in a scheme where his primary role is attacking every single down. In his current role, sometimes he's taking on double teams and playing a two-gapper style. It's not conducive for longevity when you're 280 and facing a pair of 300-pounders.

In the Bears scheme, the nose is supposed to occupy the center and prevent the double team so the three technique is free to attack.

Jones has 22 sacks in four years, but in a scheme like the Bears use it would be easy to envision bigger things for him.

He has been very consistent with 6 1/2 sacks last year and in 2020. He had 5 1/2 in 2021. As a rookie in 2019 he had 3 1/2. He gets constant pressure, with double-digit quarterback hits each of the last three years according to Sportradar and Pro Football Focus said he finished seventh in hurries last year with 33.

Jones hasn't always been the starter but was used more situationally by Fangio. He had 16 starts over his first three seasons. After Fangio left, he started every game (13) he played last year. However, even when he wasn't starting he was among the team's defensive linemen with the most plays per game over his final three years at 63%, 59% and 81% of snaps. The 81% is a high ratio for a 281-pound defensive lineman in a 3-4. In Chicago, he'd be part of a rotation even if he is a starter.

A third-round pick out of Ohio State in 2019, the tag for defensive ends is $19.7 million and for defensive tackles is $18.9 million.

Pro Football Focus rates Jones the 22nd best free agent available, just ahead of Cardinals defensive lineman Zach Allen, who might be slightly more of a 4-3 fit at end than three-technique tackle but could probably do both.

Jones is projected by Spotrac.com at $17.1 million per year while PFF projects $14.5 million a year over four years.

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