UW secondary stars are prime targets on Day 2

The second round of the NFL draft became a showcase for the talent Chris Petersen is building at Washington.

Three defensive backs from the Huskies were taken in the first 11 picks in the second round of the draft on Friday night. Cornerback Kevin King was taken by Green Bay with the first pick of the second round and No. 33 overall; safety Budda Baker was nabbed by Arizona with the No. 36 overall selection; and injured cornerback Sidney Jones was taken at No. 43 overall by Philadelphia.

There was a reason the Huskies made the College Football Playoff in just the third season under Petersen.

The trio joined wide receiver John Ross who was selected with the No. 9 overall pick by Cincinnati in the first round. The four Washington players selected in the first 43 picks topped what the Huskies accomplished just two years ago when four players — Danny Shelton, Shaq Thompson, Hau’oli Kikaha and Marcus Peters — were selected in the top 44.

Jones was expected to be the highest of the four selected, but his position in the draft tumbled after he tore his Achilles’ tendon during his pro day workout in early March. Philadelphia wasn’t deterred from grabbing Jones despite the fact he won’t be ready for the start of the season.

King was also thought to be a first-round possibility, but barely slid out of the first day. At 6-foot-3, King was thought to be a potential target for Seattle based on cornerbacks selected in the past by the Seahawks, but was taken by Green Bay one selection ahead where Seattle was scheduled to pick.

In Arizona, Baker will team with the player he’s been often compared to in versatile safety Tyrann Mathieu. Baker has been referenced as a possible slot cornerback in the NFL, but was regularly compared to Mathieu during his time at Washington.

King had a 40-yard dash time of 4.43 seconds, according to NFL.com.

“I just think that’s the way the game’s going. You just don’t want to get outflanked. You’ve got to have guys who can run and chase,” Packers player personnel director Brian Gutekunst said about drafting fast players. “I don’t think that ever changes, I think we’ve always wanted to get faster.”

For Baker, the comparisons to Mathieu were immediate.

Mathieu himself tweeted “Young Savage.”

Baker is muscular, instinctive, quick, 5-foot-10 and 192 pounds.

“Along the lines of Tyrann Mathieu, I feel like I can bring versatility,” Baker said in a conference call. “I feel like I can play strong safety, corner, nickel. I’ve shown a lot of stuff on film. I’m able to read the quarterback, make certain tackles, open-field tackles and all that type of stuff. I feel like you guys are getting a great athlete.”

Baker, in his call to reporters, talked about his mother, Michelle, whom he described as a cancer survivor who is fighting Crohn’s disease and diabetes. When he hears players complain, he said, he gets angry because he believes that work is nothing compared with what his mother goes through.

“She is the rock in the family, the foundation,” Baker said. “She’s what makes everything tick.”

Baker said she was so happy to see her son stay out West.

“She was definitely crying,” he said.

Jones and his new team agree on this: No rush to play this season.

The Philadelphia Eagles selected the injured Washington cornerback in the second round of the NFL draft, a month after he ruptured his left Achilles tendon at his pro day.

Jones was considered a first-round pick before he got hurt.

“I’ll be back on the field when (the team) feels confident,” Jones said. “We’re not going to rush anything. Of course I would like to play as soon as possible, but there’s no rush.”

Jones had eight interceptions and 21 pass breakups in three seasons playing in a talented Huskies secondary that saw three players drafted.

“He’s a difference maker at cornerback. That’s something we’ve been looking for,” The 6-foot, 186-pound Jones is considered a tough, physical cornerback with excellent ball skills. He ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. Jones didn’t allow a passing touchdown in coverage last season.

“The thing that stands out: his length, his feet. Very smooth mover,” said Joe Douglas, the Cardinals’ vice president of player personnel.

However, it’s uncertain if Jones will lose a bit of his speed following surgery.

“Our doctors and training staff not only looked at corners, but we reached out to teams in other sports,” Eagles personnel boss Howie Roseman said. “That gave us a lot of confidence here.

“There’s no insurance for this, but we feel really confident that with our medical team when he gets here he’s going to be able to be the exact same player he was before the injury.”

Roseman said. “Great character, great player.”

The 6-foot, 186-pound Jones is considered a tough, physical cornerback with excellent ball skills. He ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. Jones didn’t allow a passing touchdown in coverage last season.

“The thing that stands out: his length, his feet. Very smooth mover,” said Joe Douglas, the Cardinals’ vice president of player personnel.