MOBILE, Ala. — The Pittsburgh Steelers have interviewed former Pitt defensive end Patrick Jones II at this week’s combine, Jones told Pittsburgh Sports Now.
Jones said he’s talked to a number of teams, but his interview with the Steelers stood out, and not just because they’re the team he’s spent the last five years practicing next to.
“When I was talking to the Steelers, they asked me, ‘Do you like winning more than you hate losing?’” Jones said. “That was something that I had really never thought of. That stuck with me.”
Jones, who checked in at 6-foot-4, 264 pounds this week, would be a potential replacement for expected-to-depart free agent Bud Dupree at outside linebacker in the Steelers’ 3-4 defense, which would mean a transition from 4-3 end for Jones.
But that’s the case for most of the players the Steelers draft at that position, including Dupree and projected 2021 starter Alex Highsmith.
“They like my get-off and my motor,” Jones said. “They say that’s something I’m really good at.”
Jones is currently rated as the No. 22 edge rusher in the class by Pro Football Focus.