Ranking every player on the Steelers free agency board
By Kinnu Singh
6. Dre’Mont Jones, DE
An NFL team’s offensive line is, more often than not, its most pressing concern when entering free agency. And while the Steelers could benefit from a few vetted veterans on the offensive line, their defensive line could also use a serious rebuild.
ClutchPoints’ Tim Crean points out that “Tyson Alualu, Larry Ogunjobi, and Chris Wormley are all free agents, and All-Pro D-lineman Cameron Heyward will be 34 when the next season starts.” While Heyward holds the Steelers’ defensive line together, realistically, he won’t be able to do it for much longer. That’s why the Steelers need to prepare for the imminent future now and sign Dre’Mont Jones.
The 26-year-old defensive end has spent his entire NFL career with the Denver Broncos, quietly building an impressive resume during his four years there. So far, Jones has recorded 22 sacks, 28 tackles for a loss and 38 quarterback hits in his career. This past year, Jones was rewarded for his contributions to the defensive, playing 81 percent of the Broncos’ defensive snaps. In Week 8, he won AFC Defensive Player of the Week for producing seven tackles, three for a loss, and a sack in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jones could be costly, but he is well worth ensuring the Steelers have a future after Heyward hangs up his cleats.