It was a solid week for former Auburn cornerbacks Jonathan Jones and Jamel Dean who are both ranked among the top 15 at their position per PFF. That and more in the Week 16 NFL rundown.
BEST OF WEEK 16
Derrick Brown, DL, Carolina Panthers
A week after recording his first two NFL sacks, Brown proved disruptive yet again in Carolina's 20-13 win over the Washington Football Team. The rookie defensive lineman finished with two QB pressures, one hit on the quarterback and two pass deflections. It was the sixth straight game in which Brown has had multiple pressures, and he now leads all rookies with 34 pressures on the season. His PFF grade (60.7) is third highest among all defensive rookies taken in the first round, trailing only Chase Young (87.7) and A.J. Terrell (64.4).
The NFL leader among rookies for QB pressures w/ 3️⃣4️⃣!#AuburnMade x #AUNextLevel pic.twitter.com/U9k24WkZ0i
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) December 28, 2020
Jamel Dean, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With teammate and fellow Auburn alum Carlton Davis out, Dean earned the start in Saturday's 47-7 win over the Detroit Lions. The second-year cornerback played every defensive snap and finished with two tackles while the defense held the Lions to 113 yards passing, 186 total yards and no offensive touchdowns. The only points came on a special teams touchdown. With a PFF grade of 77.0, Dean is tied for 10th among all NFL cornerbacks.
Jonathan Jones, CB, New England Patriots
Making his first start since Week 8, Jones stepped up with eight tackles and forced a fumble in the first quarter where he punched the ball out of the wide receiver's hands. Though it was a rough night for the Patriots defense as a unit, Jones was a bright spot. Tasked with covering Cole Beasley in man-to-man, the fifth-year cornerback held Beasley to just three catches for 17 yards. Jones is currently ranked 13th overall at his position with a PFF grade of 76.2. He's also third on the team with 69 tackles this season.
Jonathan Jones 🥊
— PFF NE Patriots (@PFF_Patriots) December 29, 2020
Yet another #Patriots CB making plays!pic.twitter.com/wuU3gSnlGO
Other Tigers in the NFL
Peyton Barber, RB, Washington Football Team
Daren Bates, LB Tennessee Titans
Angelo Blackson, DE, Arizona Cardinals
Josh Bynes, LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Daniel Carlson, K, Las Vegas Raiders
Byron Cowart, DL, New England Patriots*
Chandler Cox, FB, Miami Dolphins
Marlon Davidson, DL, Atlanta Falcons
Carlton Davis, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rudy Ford, DB, Philadelphia Eagles
Josh Harris, LS, Atlanta Falcons
Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Miami Dolphins
Kerryon Johnson, RB, Detroit Lions
Carl Lawson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals
Cam Newton, QB, New England Patriots
Cody Parkey, K, Cleveland Browns
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
Braden Smith, OL, Indianapolis Colts
Jarrett Stidham, QB, New England Patriots
Neiko Thorpe, CB, Seattle Seahawks
DNP (Reserve/Injured)
Montravius Adams, DL, Green Bay Packers
Shon Coleman, OT, San Francisco 49ers
Jack Driscoll, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
Dee Ford, DL, San Francisco 49ers
John Franklin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers*
Brandon King, LB, New England Patriots
Dontavius Russell, DL, Jacksonville Jaguars
Daniel Thomas, DB, Jacksonville Jaguars
C.J. Uzomah, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Practice Squad
Nick Coe, DE, Miami Dolphins
Blake Countess, DB, Philadelphia Eagles
Javaris Davis, CB, Miami Dolphins
Mike Horton, OG, Carolina Panthers
Devaroe Lawrence, DT, Washington Football Team
Derrick Moncrief, LB, Los Angeles Rams*
Arryn Siposs, P, Detroit Lions
Chad Slade, OG, New York Giants
Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
Duke Williams, WR, Buffalo Bills
*AU lettermen