With the 14th pick in the sixth round (198 overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers have selected Mississippi defensive tackle D.J. Jones.
Jones was a national top-five junior college recruit out of East Mississippi Junior College. In 2015, he played in every game for the Rebels, starting three and making 40 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and four sacks. Jones started all 12 games during his senior year. Over the past two years, he accumulated 70 tackles, 8.5 for a loss, and six sacks over 25 games.
NFL.com projected that Jones would be selected in round 4 or 5 of the NFL Draft.
Lance Zierlein of NFL Media, who compares Jones to Grady Jarrett, had the following to say in his scouting report:
"Jones has a freaky combination of power and athleticism that isn't seen all that often. While his playing style is reminiscent of Grady Jarrett's, keep in mind that he's a bigger player. Despite his impressive play attributes, Jones failed to generate the production that his flashes on tape would indicate he's capable of. If a coach can unlock more consistency, Jones has a chance to flourish as a one-gapping nose with three-down ability."
Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst had the following to say in his scouting report:
"Jones flashed dominance at Mississippi and offers possibilities at nose tackle or as a gap-occupying lineman in a four-man front."
Measurables
Height: 6-1
Weight: 319 lbs.
Arm length: 32 1/2 inches
Hand length: 10 1/4 inches
NFL Scouting Combine
40-time: 5.04 seconds
Vertical: 28.5 inches
Broad jump: 108 inches
3-cone drill: 7.73 seconds
Bench press: 25 reps
20-yard shuttle: 4.65 seconds
College Statistics
| Year | G | Tkl | Loss | Sk |
| 2015 | 13 | 40 | 5.5 | 4.0 |
| 2016 | 12 | 30 | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| Totals | 25 | 70 | 8.5 | 6.0 |
