While Pro Bowl safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix — a player Jones said he has long admired, watching highlights of him before games — brings a measure of that confidence to the unit, the group looked beaten down at times last season, especially in the Packers’ season-ending 44-21 blowout loss at Atlanta in the NFC Championship Game, when they gave up 392 yards and four touchdowns through the air to Matt Ryan and the Falcons.

“I don’t take a backseat to anybody as far as talent, no matter who you are. I’m very confident in my abilities and what God has blessed me with,” said Jones, who entered the draft after his junior year with the Wolfpack. “Going into the draft, when I declared, I knew I was the underdog. I’ve been an underdog my whole life. I go by the motto, ‘No handouts.’ I don’t want anything handed to me. I want to work for it.”

He may not be handed anything, but given how excited the Packers are about how they can utilize him, he’ll have ample opportunities. After all, when normally reserved general manager Ted Thompson is gushing about you, you know there’s a buzz about you.