2021 NFL Draft defensive end rankings: Ronnie Perkins leads a deep class

8. Patrick Jones, Pittsburgh
6-foot-4, 264 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Second round

Pittsburgh defensive end Patrick Jones has put up strong numbers during his college career. Over the past two seasons with the Panthers, Jones has recorded 25 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks. His best season was this past year where he led the ACC in sacks with nine and was also able to compile 13 tackles for loss on the season.

The first positive with Jones is his pass-rushing ability. His high sack total the least two years proves he can get after the passer. One of the reasons he is such a threat as a pass rusher is his athletic ability. He displays a nice burst off the ball and is able to challenge most tackles around the edge. Another strength of his is his ability to hold up as a run defender. Despite being a little on the lighter side he is able to hold his ground well and should be a solid run defender in the NFL.

A concern with Jones is that he tends to play hot and cold at times. Another issue with him is that he seemed to really struggle during Senior Bowl week as he only won 11%  of his one-on-one reps. He also only measured in with 32-inch arms at the Senior Bowl which could be a red flag for NFL teams.

While there are some legitimate concerns with Jones, he does offer enough to be a mid-second round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.