With the annual NFL Draft quickly approaching, the Steelers find themselves with several needs, with Outside Linebacker being perhaps the most critical of them, and the best Outside Linebacker in this draft is Jarvis Jones of the University of Georgia. Prior to the Combine in Indianapolis, Jones was at the top of just about every Steelers fans wish list for the 17th pick, until he ran a lackluster 40 yard dash and it was revealed that he was diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis during his freshman year at USC. His condition was revealed after he suffered a sprained neck in the 10th game of his freshman season and although he was cleared by doctors to return to the field, USC refused to let him play, so he got a release from his scholarship, and with the help of his former high school coach, got in to the University of Georgia. After sitting out for a season following his transfer, Jones dominated the SEC once he was finally able to get on the field, making Saturdays an absolute nightmare for opposing Quarterbacks and Running Backs, racking up 44 tackles for losses and 28 sacks in his last two years. Part of what makes Jarvis the player he has become is an event in his life that occured when he was 15 years old. As a teenager, Jones was very close with his older brother and spent a lot of time with him, and the day of his brother's birthday, they planned to spend the entire day together until it was time for the family's surprise birthday party. During the course of the day, they ran into some of his brother's friends, who asked his brother to go hang out with them for awhile. He told them that he was hanging out with Jarvis for the day, but Jarvis told him to go on with them and he'd see him later at home.
An hour later, Jarvis and his family found out that his brother had been shot and killed outside of a bar after confrontation with another group of guys which left him feeling guilty, despondent and angry, because he could've told his brother to stay and hang with him. Jones started skipping school and getting into trouble which led to his expulsion from school. He ended up attending another high school but the problems continued and he was expelled from that school as well. Eventually, he was taken in by the coach of his AAU Basketball team and his wife, who got him caught up on his school work and into a high school in Columbus, Georgia. It was there when he found his way to the football field, where he was able to take out his anger and hit people, without getting in trouble for it. His standout play got him a scholarship to USC and he saw it as an opportunity to get away from the pain of the tragedy of his brothers murder and get a new start, but less than a year later, his stay with USC would be over with the diagnosis of Spinal Stenosis.
Since the news of his condition went public, Jarvis Jones's stock has taken a hit and a lot of SteelerNation now feels that it would be too high of a risk to take him with the 17th pick and I can understand this sentiment to a point, who would want to invest money in a player whose career could end in the blink of an eye? The fact is that any player's career could end in an instant, in any situation on the field, like Dennis Byrd's career did. Career ending injury isn't the only risk as we all know, the first pick could end up being a bust, like Huey Richardson, or get into a car accident that ends his career, like Gabe Rivera. I'd be more concerned about an offensive player having Spinal Stenosis since he is on the receiving end of contact and can't always prepare himself for it, whereas Jones intiates the contact and has solid technique. The Steelers need an Outside Linebacker opposite LaMarr Woodley, who can get to the Quarterback and disrupt plays behind the line of scrimmage and Jones is maybe the best player in the draft at getting this done.
Jarvis Jones would be worth the risk at 17 in my opinion. The sheer physicality of the brand of football played in the South Eastern Conference is about as close as you can get to the NFL and he showed he was durible over his three years in Athens. For the Steelers to not take him with their first pick, it should be because they liked somebody better at another position and had them rated higher on their draft board, since Jones is the best Outside Linebacker in the draft. The Steelers have many needs to fill and have a few different directions they could go at 17, but Jones deserves as much consideration as anyone else since he is the best impact player at the Steelers most critical position of need.