Jason Craft
Encyclopedia
Jason Donell Andre Craft (born February 13, 1976 in Denver, Colorado
) is a free agent
American football
cornerback
. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars
in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Colorado State
.
in Denver, Colorado and was a letterman in football, basketball
, and track
. In football, he was a two-time All-City selection and as a senior, he helped lead his team to a 8 win - 2 loss record and the Denver Prep League Title.
in 1995 as a walk-on from Denver Community College. He played for the team from 1997-1998 starting 12 of 21 games, finishing with 53 tackles
and four interceptions. He started every game at cornerback as a senior in 1998 and recorded 45 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, four interceptions and four passes defensed. He appeared in nine games as a reserve and on special teams in 1997.
in the 5th round of the 1999 NFL Draft
. For the first couple of years he was used mostly on special teams. In 2002, he became a full time starter. He played five seasons in Jacksonville, intercepting seven passes and making 194 tackles.
for a fifth round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft
(Chris Thompson). While in New Orleans most of his action was on special teams, as he has only started 14 games at cornerback. In 2004 he played in 14 games at cornerback and contributed on special teams in his first season with New Orleans and finished season with 17 tackles, four passes defensed and 10 special teams tackles. In 2005 he played in all 16 games with four starts at right cornerback and led the Saints with three interceptions. He posted 36 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, four passes defensed and seven special teams stops. Played in all 16 games with five starts and produced 52 tackles, 10 passes defensed and an interception. Craft started four of 16 games played and totaled 63 tackles, two interceptions and eight passes defensed. In 2008 Craft played in two games with the Saints before being released on September 16, 2008.
on September 24, 2008. Craft played mostly as the Rams nickelback in 2008. He made two starts, one as a left cornerback and the other as a nickelback when the Rams open the game in a 5 defensive back formation. He made 52 tackles, three sacks, 1 interception, 5 passes defensed, one forced fumble and three fumbles recovered. The Rams cut Craft in April 2009 and he is currently a free agent.
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
) is a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Colorado State
Colorado State Rams football
The Colorado State Rams football program, established in 1893, represents Colorado State University and is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mountain West Conference under head coach Steve Fairchild...
.
Early years
Craft attended East High SchoolEast High School (Denver, Colorado)
East High School is a public high school located in the City Park neighborhood on the east side of Denver, Colorado. It is part of the Denver Public Schools System.-History:...
in Denver, Colorado and was a letterman in football, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. In football, he was a two-time All-City selection and as a senior, he helped lead his team to a 8 win - 2 loss record and the Denver Prep League Title.
College career
Craft joined the Colorado State RamsColorado State Rams football
The Colorado State Rams football program, established in 1893, represents Colorado State University and is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mountain West Conference under head coach Steve Fairchild...
in 1995 as a walk-on from Denver Community College. He played for the team from 1997-1998 starting 12 of 21 games, finishing with 53 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
and four interceptions. He started every game at cornerback as a senior in 1998 and recorded 45 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, four interceptions and four passes defensed. He appeared in nine games as a reserve and on special teams in 1997.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Craft was drafted by the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 5th round of the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
. For the first couple of years he was used mostly on special teams. In 2002, he became a full time starter. He played five seasons in Jacksonville, intercepting seven passes and making 194 tackles.
New Orleans Saints
On April 8, 2004 the Jaguars traded Craft to the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
for a fifth round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
(Chris Thompson). While in New Orleans most of his action was on special teams, as he has only started 14 games at cornerback. In 2004 he played in 14 games at cornerback and contributed on special teams in his first season with New Orleans and finished season with 17 tackles, four passes defensed and 10 special teams tackles. In 2005 he played in all 16 games with four starts at right cornerback and led the Saints with three interceptions. He posted 36 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, four passes defensed and seven special teams stops. Played in all 16 games with five starts and produced 52 tackles, 10 passes defensed and an interception. Craft started four of 16 games played and totaled 63 tackles, two interceptions and eight passes defensed. In 2008 Craft played in two games with the Saints before being released on September 16, 2008.
St.Louis Rams
Craft signed with the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
on September 24, 2008. Craft played mostly as the Rams nickelback in 2008. He made two starts, one as a left cornerback and the other as a nickelback when the Rams open the game in a 5 defensive back formation. He made 52 tackles, three sacks, 1 interception, 5 passes defensed, one forced fumble and three fumbles recovered. The Rams cut Craft in April 2009 and he is currently a free agent.