Nate Burleson discusses what Marvin Jones Jr. brings to the table for Jags
Though Jacksonville likely isn’t done adding to its receiver corps this offseason, it made a major signing when it brought veteran wideout Marvin Jones Jr. in from Detroit. Coming off a nine-touchdown 2020 season that saw him fall just 22 yards short of 1,000 yards, the Jags believe the 31-year-old still has a lot of high-level football left in him.
One person who’s very high on that signing is NFL Network analyst and “Good Morning Football’ co-host Nate Burleson, who played 11 seasons as a receiver in the NFL. He said that the experience Jones brings to the table is invaluable, though the team already has a top option in D.J. Chark.
“You have a guy who can come in right away and show you how to be a consistent wide receiver,” Burleson said. “Now, D.J. Chark is a beast. That dude is a No. 1 wideout on any team. So let’s not act like he’s just going to come in and play second fiddle.
“But what else you get with Marvin Jones is you get the other side of what being a professional athlete is, and that’s understanding the ins and outs of being a pro. How to take care of your body, how to take care of your diet, how to balance and multitask, show up and be an absolute professional while being a grown man and handling your business off the field.”
Coming from a franchise in Detroit that has also struggled in recent years, Burleson said Jones would be an important locker room resource during tough times. For the Jaguars, who are expected to improve in 2021 but are still coming off a 1-15 season, that’s good news, as struggles could be plentiful in Year 1 under coach Urban Meyer.
“He’s seen the highs and the lows, he’s been considered one of the best wide receivers but has also been on a team that wasn’t winning,” Burleson said. “So having a guy in the locker room that can speak to you when the tough times come, that goes a long way.”
With a young quarterback, running back and receiving corps, leadership from a veteran like Jones could be huge for the Jaguars. Though his production likely won’t surpass that of Chark, he gives Jacksonville and Lawrence a lot more options in the passing game.
