Cowboys Defender Is The Fastest Player In The NFL

Dallas Cowboys safety Byron Jones just wrapped up his third season in the league, and despite not making the Pro Bowl this year, put up very good numbers.

Even though the Cowboys finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs, Jones achieved something he can brag about, at least until next season starts.

A recent study done by the New York Times determined that Jones was the fastest player in the NFL this season.

Jones, who didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the Draft Combine, was recorded running the dash in 4.36 seconds while he was in college at UConn.

“Combine speed is overrated,” said Tavon Austin, the Los Angeles Rams’ speedy receiver. “It might give you a good look to see what you can run in a straight line, but football’s not played in a straight line.”

Jones proved Austin right in a week 11 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Running back Jay Ajayi broke free on a run similar to Leonard Fournette’s run at the end of the Jacksonville’s Jaguars game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 5.

With nothing but open field in front of him. Ajayi, who reached a top speed of 20.41 m.p.h. on the play, was caught from behind by Byron Jones, who ran 22.11 m.p.h. in pursuit, according to Sportradar.

Jones’ 22.11 m.p.h speed was the fastest recorded speed in the NFL this season.

Some players believe that they actually run faster than their recorded speed when they are chasing other players or getting chased because they get an extra adrenaline push during the game.

“Oh, absolutely,” said the Jets’ Elijah McGuire, who had the fourth-fastest speed for a running back this season (21.17 m.p.h.) “When people are chasing me, I think of it as a dog is behind me. So I don’t want to get caught. That’s just my mind-set when a defender’s chasing me.”