Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones is already in New York for the 2013 NFL draft that will begin Thursday night and predicted that he wouldn\’t get past the Pittsburgh Steelers in round one should he even fall that far.
Jones, who was partaking in some sort of promotion for Subway Tuesday morning, that included a bust of him made out chicken salad being unveiled, told Ian Rapoport on the NFL Network, ” “If I even get to 17, I don’t think I get past the Steelers.”
The Steelers are certainly expected to address the outside linebacker position at some point during the draft, and while this is certainly not anywhere close to Babe Ruth pointing to the fence, it is a pretty confident statement being made by Jones.
Jones, who recorded 28 total sacks and 44 tackles for loss in 26 games played at Georgia, has been linked to the Steelers in the first round in many a mock draft this offseason. His draft stock, however, appeared to take a hit after a disappointing pro day showing and continued questions about a possible neck stenosis problem.
So what has led to Jones making such a prediction? According to Rapaport, the Georgia linebacker is listening to what the coaches are telling him and paying no mind to to various mock drafts that inundate the internet.
“Then you got the people that do the mock drafts, they say I\’m way down here, I talk to the coaches, all the coaches don\’t think I\’m gonna get past a certain point, so, coaches – for me personally – the coaches are on something different than all the analysts on TV at home. So, for me, I\’m listening to the coaches, because they\’re the ones that have the draft picks.”
I highly doubt that Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert would outright tell Jones that he will be the pick, but it should be noted that the linebacker did make a pre draft visit to Pittsburgh.
Should the Steelers wind up making Jones their selection, he would be the second oldest player that the Steelers have drafted in the first round in the Colbert era since nose tackle Casey Hampton was selected in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft. Jones will be 23 years, 6 months and 13 days old come draft day, while Hampton was 23 years, 7 months and 19 days old when he was selected.
We don\’t have long to find out if Jones prediction holds true and there still is a pretty good chance that he will be off the board by the time the Steelers are on the clock.
