Steelers All 90: Manny Jones Faces Uphill Battle For Roster Spot

The Pittsburgh Steelers claimed Manny Jones off of waivers earlier this offseason after the second-year player was waived by his original club, the Arizona Cardinals. Jones was a corresponding move for the Steelers after the team placed Renell Wren on the injured reserve in May.

Jones went undrafted out of Colorado State in 2022 but signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent. Coming out of college, Jones was said to have an NFL body and impressed the scouts with his high motor and endless effort.

As a rookie, Jones was elevated three times and appeared in four games, recording six tackles and a quarterback pressure.

While the Steelers did not sign Jones to be a starter, he is expected to battle with some other young defensive lineman for a roster spot in training camp and the preseason. He will be in direct competition with Jonathan Marshall, James Nyamwaya, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Armon Watts, and Breiden Fehoko. While that group contains about six players, only about half of them will end up on the team’s final 53-man roster.

Jones brings some versatility that will help him separate from some of the other young guys as he played both defensive end and defensive tackle in college. In his five years at Colorado State, Jones was a productive defensive lineman. He appeared in 50 games and recorded 181 combined tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, one interception, two passes defended, and two forced fumbles.

He is listed as a defensive end on the Steelers but played at the tackle position for the Cardinals last season.

The Steelers have another player of a similar build to Jones in DeMarvin Leal. While Leal is more polished as a player, this invites the idea of molding Jones into a similar, do-it-all type of defensive lineman if he makes the team. Since Jones is further away in terms of being a well-rounded player, it will take time as a depth player to be able to see it all come full circle for him.

Nonetheless, it will be an uphill battle for Jones to crack the final roster due to his lack of experience and his youthfulness. Jones only has one year and four regular season games under his belt which is only more experience than Nyamwaya, who is a rookie this year. But given his limited playing time last season with the Cardinals, he should be set up to at least snag a spot on the team’s practice squad.

72 • Manny Jones, Defensive End, Colorado State
6-foot-4, 290 pounds, 24 years old, 2nd Season

Acquired: The Steelers claimed Jones off of waivers on May 16, 2023, after the Arizona Cardinals waived him the day prior.

Last season: After Jones went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Cardinals signed him as an undrafted free agent. Jones was a part of the team’s final roster cuts prior to the 2022 season but re-signed to the practice squad the next day.

Jones was elevated to the team’s active roster prior to the Cardinals’ Week 9 game against the Seattle Seahawks when he made his NFL debut. In that game, Jones recorded two defensive snaps. His second appearance came in Week 15 against the Denver Broncos when he posted his first two tackles of his career. Jones would go on to appear in the team’s final two games of the season.

In total, Jones finished the season with 59 defensive snaps, six combined tackles, and one quarterback pressure.

Arizona Cardinals’ Manny Jones runs drills at the NFL football team’s rookie minicamp, Friday, May 13, 2022, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

College: Jones committed to Colorado State University over seven other schools and made an immediate impact on the Rams. Jones played in 12 games as a true freshman and started one. He finished with a total of 35 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, and two sacks. He missed the final game of the season due to an injury.

In 2018, Jones played in 10 games and recorded eight starts on the defensive line. He stayed consistent as he finished his sophomore year with 34 combined tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, and one pass defended.

As a junior, Jones played in 12 games for the Rams as he posted a career-high 54 combined tackles, five sacks, and eight tackles for loss. He also forced two fumbles in 2019. Following the season, Jones earned All-Mountain West recognition.

Prior to the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Jones moved from defensive end to defensive tackle. He started all four games for the Rams and posted 13 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks.

As a graduate player, Jones played in 12 games and finished the season with 45 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one pass defended.

In his five years at Colorado State, Jones played in 50 games and recorded 181 combined tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, one interception, two passes defended, and two forced fumbles.

Salary cap and future: Jones is on a one-year contract with the Steelers and will become an exclusive rights-free agent following the 2023 season. He will cost $870,000 against the Steelers’ 2023 cap space.

Since his cap hit is all base salary with no bonuses, the team could waive Jones this season and not face any cap penalties.

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