Steelers' LB Jarvis Jones Has a Lot to Prove, but Don't Call Him a Bust Just Yet

There may be no word more loaded in the National Football League than "bust." Information travels a mile a minute now, every players' on and off-field moves are scrutinized like never before and patience is at a premium. Even with a Collective Bargaining Agreement that has rookie contracts structured more realistically than ever, a Round 1 draft pick still "must" produce, and quickly, no matter what. 

That's the spot that Pittsburgh Steelers' 2013 Round 1 draft pick Jarvis Jones has found himself in, and through no fault of his own. It seems forgotten that the outside linebacker cut his teeth in Dick LeBeau's defense, one hard to navigate as a young player, and that his sophomore season was marred by a wrist injury he is still recovering from.

Year	Games	Snaps	Comb.T	Sacks	QB Hits	QB Hurries
2013	14	646	40	1.0	2	25
2014	7	237	18	2.0	1	4
Total	21	883	58	3.0	3	29

The inherent problems with overpaying for and being over-demanding of a rookie were supposed to evaporate with the new CBA, but yet it's more alive than ever. But the difference is that this perception of Round 1 draft picks has already changed among NFL coaches and general managers. Round 1 picks aren't becoming rookie starters because their draft position has dictated it, but because they have earned it. 

Has Jones earned it? He's clearly in the mix to start for the Steelers this year, given that James Harrison will be on a snap count this year and the team's other two primary options are rookie Bud Dupree (another Round 1 pick) and veteran—but not often starter—Arthur Moats. This is Jones' best chance to prove himself and he'll get that opportunity. If he is handed the baton and fails, then it's time to worry. But for now, with time still on Jones' side, calling him a bust is extremely premature.

Don Wright/Associated Press/Associated Press

Jones' rookie year saw him sitting behind the likes of Harrison and LaMarr Woodley. Jones ultimately played more than Woodley in 2013, with 646 snaps for Jones to 582 for Woodley, according to Pro Football Focus. But that was mainly a result of Woodley's numerous injuries that year and not so much that Jones was entirely ready to be called up. 

It's a fact that Jones has not delivered as much as was expected when the Steelers drafted him. He has just three career sacks over two years and 58 combined tackles. But he's struggled with the typical issues that young defensive players have had, historically, under LeBeau and followed that up by missing nine games in 2014 with an injured wrist.

It's crazy to think that Jones is a bust simply because he wasn't an instant starter, or that there is some inherent flaw with him that caused his wrist injury.

Too much is being demanded of every young NFL player, particularly Round 1 draft picks. The CBA was restructured to allow for—whether intentionally or not—teams to be patient with their draft picks. Yet there are fans who still expect instant production from players who can actually be afforded patience. Jones should not be punished for circumstances beyond his control.

Jones will be in a competition this summer, to be sure. And the outcome of that competition has much to do with what he makes of his role in it. Finally, Jones does have a degree of control over his future in the NFL and with the Steelers. The scrutiny is real and the pressure is high. Heavy and definitive judgements will fall about Jones if Harrison gets starts over him. It will look even worse if the rookie Dupree gets more snaps.

But there is time on Jones' side. The proving ground—training camp—is over a month away. Let Jones make the most of a situation that favors him. If he cannot deliver by January, then pass judgement. Until then, the benefit of the doubt is the least Jones is owed.