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New Jaguars CB Hayden vows to play hard, no matter where the team needs him

His one-year stop in Detroit led to a long-term contract with the Jaguars.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - D.J. Hayden needed to be reminded of how many seasons he has played in the NFL during his introductory press conference in Jacksonville on Thursday.

The new Jaguars cornerback has endured so much during his career that it's probably easy to lose track of time.

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Hayden battled injuries early on in his career after being selected in the first round by the Oakland Raiders in 2013. He failed to live up to the expectations that come with being a Top 12 pick and his tenure in Oakland lasted just four years.

He then moved to Detroit where he played in a cornerback rotation for the Lions. His one-year stop in Detroit led to a long-term contract with the Jaguars.

“It’s a blessing just for the Jaguars organization and all the coaches to believe in me,” Hayden said. “I’m [going] to go ahead and play hard for them.”

Hayden signed a three-year deal with the Jaguars on the second day of free agency. While his play in Detroit led to long-term security elsewhere, Hayden believes he has much more room for improvement in Jacksonville.

“Me, on a personal level, I’d say I expect more from myself,” Hayden said. “But this year, I’m coming out, I’m working hard and making plays.”

Hayden's experiences with two different organizations will help him get acclimated to his third squad. He understands how to adapt to new surroundings because of his past endeavors.

“Absolutely, because just doing the whole going from Oakland to Detroit [experience], I learned a lot,” Hayden said

"I kind of know what to look out for and what not to get myself involved with. I’ve been in the league, I’m going into my sixth year, [so] I know what to expect, what I should be doing as far as mentally and physically taking care of my body.”

The Jaguars brought Hayden to Jacksonville to play nickel cornerback. He will primarily defend the slot against receivers and tight ends.

While he has mostly played on the outside during his career, Hayden believes his skills translate to several different roles.

“Personally, I feel like my game, I can outside or inside, so it doesn’t really matter to me,” Hayden said. “Wherever the team needs me is where I’m going to be at.”

Hayden's versatility is important to the Jaguars' depth in the secondary. His thirst for knowledge should also help him blend in with the defense without issue.

Hayden's former Detroit teammate, Don Carey, also signed with the Jaguars this week. Carey was quick to praise Hayden's intelligence during his own introductory press conference.

“Tremendously talented, very skilled and he’s more of an intellectual than you would think,” safety Don Carey said.

“Sitting in the classroom with him, and you know he’s a great player on the field, but then when he starts asking questions about the nuances of the game; I always measure players by the number of questions they ask of nuances [in scheme]. So if a guy Is always asking about plan playbook stuff, he’s an okay but he has some growing to do. D.J. does a really good of digging into the nuances of coverage and a position. Then when he gets on the field, he’s a willing tackler and able coverage guy, so I’m excited to see him here and how he does.”

Hayden will need to be well-prepared this season. With All-Pro cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye on the outside, Hayden should be targeted often.

The cornerback isn't intimidated by the challenges that come with defending the field opposite Ramsey and Bouye. In fact, Hayden looks forward to growing with his new teammates in the secondary.

“It’s definitely weird to have two Pro Bowl corners on the team," Hayden said. "So for me to be an addition to that, the sky is the limit for this whole defense and this organization."

Follow Mike Kaye on Twitter at @Mike_E_Kaye.

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