NFL.com draft preview Jamir Jones

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JAMIR JONES NOTRE DAME EDGE

Prospect Info

COLLEGE
Notre Dame

HOMETOWN
Rochester, NY

HEIGHT
6' 3"

WEIGHT
255 lbs

Prospect Grade
5.69

Player Bio
Although Jones was a top-250 recruit nationally out of Rochester, New York (23 tackles for loss on defense, nine receiving touchdowns at tight end as a senior), he was not able to earn much playing time on defense during his first three years in South Bend. He did excel on special teams as a freshman, however, racking up eight coverage tackles in 10 games. Jones played in 12 games as a reserve in 2017 (four tackles). He managed to bounce back from knee surgery in June 2018 to make 12 tackles, one for loss, in 12 games that fall. The brother of former Notre Dame defensive lineman Jarron Jones found a starting job in 2019 thanks, in part, to injuries. In 11 games, he posted 26 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks, a pass breakup and two forced fumbles.

Analysis
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst

Overview
Jones is a 3-4 outside linebacker with good size who figures to get bigger and stronger with time. While he doesn't have a lot of experience, he's been praised for his football character and team-first attitude and displayed rapid improvement when given a chance in 2019. His strength and athleticism are traits teams can work with as a rusher and run defender. His career production at Notre Dame won't get teams excited, but Jones has put together enough flashes to go with his measurables and could intrigue teams as a developmental edge defender.

Strengths
NFL body type with a frame that should continue to fill out
Praised for football IQ and attention to assignments
Hips are fluid and feet are athletic
Takes wide, lateral steps to beat reach blocks for play-side contain
Well-schooled with his stack-and-shed technique
Could become bigger factor in twist game as rusher
Pass rush is raw but flashes necessary movement traits
Good bend to slide around the edge at the top of the rush

Weaknesses
Very limited career production
Had less than 1,000 career snaps and has sparse starting experience
Unable to work his way through secure blocks when pinned
Struggled in taking on Michigan's "power" scheme
Go-to moves and functional skill level missing from his rush
Hasn't learned to batter the pass punch with violent hands