Former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Jarvis Jones has been named the Steelers’ biggest draft bust of the century in a study by Bookies.com.
Using the approximate draft value of each player drafted by the 32 NFL teams from 2000-19, the study compared that value to the draft pick used to make his selection.
The Steelers took Jones with the 17th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Georgia, and he played in 50 games for the team over four seasons, with 35 of them starts. But at the most premium defensive position on a defense known for getting after the passer, Jones had just six sacks in his time in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers chose not to exercise their fifth-year option on Jones’ contract and in 2017, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals as a free agents. He was released by the Cardinals with an injury settlement before ever playing a game with the team.
The opinion of Jones as a notable draft bust has some backing. Pro Football Focus named him the Steelers’ worst pick since PFF was founded in 2006.
The Steelers and some fans can take some solace in the fact that while Jones was the team’s biggest bust, he provided the most value for his pick of any team’s worst draft pick of the last 20 years.
The worst overall selection was the Detroit Lions taking wide receiver Charles Rogers at No. 2 overall in 2003.