Summary

Drafted: Round 2, 37th overall (2017) by the Buffalo Bills. The Washington Daily News

• College: East Carolina University. East Carolina University Athletics

• Key statistics: At ECU, Jones totaled 399 catches, 4,279 receiving yards, and 23 touchdowns over 49 games. Sports Reference In his senior year (2016), he set the school single-season receptions record with 158 catches. HERO Sports

• Accolades: Finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2016. Known for durability (played all games in his college career) and consistency. HERO Sports

• Character / Profile: Viewed in college as a polished, high-volume target; his leadership and production made him a high-profile receiver in a smaller program.

Strengths

• Volume target / dependable hands — Jones broke the FBS career receptions record (399) at ECU.

• Route runner with good awareness — He has shown ability to run a full route tree and find soft spots.

• Strong work ethic and durability — Played 49 games in college, a consistent presence. HERO Sports

• Versatility in the passing game — Effective both on intermediate routes and in contested situations.

• Experienced in high-volume catch environments — Knowing how to handle a lot of targets helps him at the pro level.

• Legacy connection / football IQ — Comes from a football family (father Robert Jones, uncle Jeff Blake) which may help his mental processing. HERO Sports

Weaknesses

• Separation against elite defenders — Not always the fastest, so when matched against top-tier cornerbacks, his release or burst can be limited.

• Big-play upside limited — While consistent, he may not be a home-run threat on every down; average yards per catch are modest.

• Physicality contested catches — He sometimes struggles to consistently body out defenders or dominate in 50/50 situations at the NFL level.

• Blocking contribution — Not known for being a dominant blocker; his value is more in the pass game than as a physical, every-down receiver.

• Off-field / availability risk — Later in his career, he has had roster turnover; for example, he was released by the Jaguars in 2024. Reuters

Fit & Outlook

Zay Jones projects best in offenses that can leverage his reliability and volume-catching ability rather than as a pure vertical threat. He is well suited for a slot or flanker role where his route-running and dependable hands can be maximized. In the NFL, he’s likely to serve as a complementary piece—someone who can be targeted in possession situations, third downs, and two-minute drills. While he may not be the centerpiece of a receiving corps, his experience, savvy, and steady production make him a valuable second or third option. Over time, if placed in a stable system with a good quarterback and route-distribution balance, he can carve out a long, productive career as a role receiver.