2021 NFL Draft: Pitt EDGE Patrick Jones II has first-round upside

Pitt edge defender Patrick Jones II is an exciting 2021 NFL Draft prospect who is taking his game to the next level.

The 2021 NFL Draft class lacks the high-end edge rushing prospect that we have been used to seeing in recent years. Gregory Rousseau is considered the top edge rusher in the class by most, but he is far from a perfect player and that top spot could easily be up for grabs. Pitt edge rusher Patrick Jones II could be knocking on his door before long.

Jones burst onto the scene over the weekend, piling up three sacks in Pittsburgh’s 23-30 win against Lousiville. He was absolutely dominant on Saturday afternoon, putting consistent pressure on the quarterback with an impressive array of speed moves. This performance has the arrow of Jones’ 2021 NFL Draft stock going up and that does not appear likely to change any time soon.

The senior edge rusher really seems to be taking the next step in his development this season. Jones is incredibly quick off of the ball and shows an impressive ability to get low and bend around the edge. He is an explosive edge rusher who converts from speed to power incredibly well and shows great competitive toughness on each play.

Jones is a quick and explosive edge rusher who works hard on every single snap. He can win with raw speed around the edge and also shows a quick inside move that leads to a pass-rushing win a majority of the time.

Simply put, Jones has an exciting natural skill-set and only seems to be getting better as an edge defender. He undoubtedly has tremendous upside at the next level and should be able to come in and make an immediate impact for his NFL team.

Make no mistake about it, Jones is a premier edge-rushing prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft class and undoubtedly deserves first-round consideration. You can never have too many guys who can attack the quarterback and Jones has the ability to do so at an extremely high level.