The Pittsburgh Steelers are still looking for their next James Harrison.
Literally. Harrison first caught the Steelers eye as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2002. He got an invite to training camp but spent the next 2 years going on and off the roster and practice squad. Then Joey Porter got tossed in a pre-game scuffle at Cleveland, giving Harrison a chance to play defense and well, you know the rest.
Since then the Steelers have had several unheralded outside linebackers flash during the summer at St. Vincents and each time “they” ask, “Is this the next James Harrison?” You might remember some of their names Ola Adeniyi, Tuzar Skipper and finally Jamir Jones who is now an exclusive rights free agent.
Jamir Jones in 2021. Photo Credit: USA Today via the Rams Wire.
Capsule Profile of Jamir Jones Career with the Steelers
The Steelers signed Jamir Jones as an undrafted rookie free agent in the spring of 2021. Jones played well in preseason, and earned a spot on the Steelers regular season roster. He saw action in the 2021 opening day win over the Bills, got a quarterback hit in the home opening loss to the Bengals, and even got a start in the home opener loss to the Raiders.
- The Steelers cut him after that.
He got picked up by the Los Angeles Rams where he played 10 games before getting cut. He was then picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he played 2 games. Jacksonville cut him at the end of camp, but the Steelers picked him up off of waivers.
Jones appeared in all 17 games for the Steelers, logging 57% of the special teams snaps but only logged 86 snaps on defense, although he did defend a Joe Burrow pass intended for Joe Mixon during the 2022 season opening upset of the Bengals.
The Case for the Steelers Resigning Jamir Jones
At this point in the spring of 2004 was there anyone who was saying, “The Steelers MUST bring back James Harrison no ifs ands or buts?” Point made.
The Steelers outside linebacker depth behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith has been a liability for years. The Malik Reed, Melvin Ingram and Taco Charlton experiments have all failed each in their unique way. Steelers coaches saw enough in Jones to give him a second chance. They should let him finish it.
The Case Against the Steelers Resigning Jamir Jones
88%, 83% and 8%. Those are the snap count totals for Alex Highsmith, T.J. Watt and Jamir Jones. Clearly you want to former two playing as much as possible. But you also want a player behind them who is capable of giving them a breather, the way Arthur Moats did a few years back.
Jamir Jones hasn’t shown a hint of being able to do that. It is time to move on.
Curtain’s Call on the Steelers and Jamir Jones
Jamir Jones isn’t the next James Harrison. Could he grow into another Arthur Moats? Um… maybe.
But no one will throw money at Jamir Jones, so the Steelers shouldn’t offer him an Exclusive Free Agent Tender and can bring him back to St. Vincents at their convenience and at a lower salary cap cost.
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