Cleveland Browns: 5 NFL Draft EDGE prospects to pair with Myles Garrett

2. Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh

One of college football’s best pass-rushers in 2019, Jones decided to return to school, and while he maybe hasn’t been quite as effective in 2020, he’s still a top EDGE prospect in the class. He’s logged eight sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, and has had monster games against Louisville, Boston College, and Florida State.

Jones is 6-5 260 pounds of pure explosion. His burst off the snap is fantastic, and he has the quickness to beat any offensive lineman. He can translate that burst to power effectively, and if he can improve his technique consistency, he can be an excellent player.

It’s not just the dreads; when watching Jones, it’s easy to see a thinner and more explosive Adrian Clayborn, especially in the way the two lumber around the arc.

Jones’ explosiveness doesn’t just help him beat tackles around the edge; he’s a disruptive run defender, which is something that is important to the Browns defense, as they like to run nickel and dime more than base 4-3. The EDGEs must defend the run well, and that means both setting the edge and holding their ground and splitting double teams and getting into the backfield to blow up plays. Jones can do that very well.

Whether or not Jones is a first-round pick may depend on how many linebackers and quarterbacks are taken on Day 1. He should be there when the Browns select in the first, and would be an excellent choice for a team in need of a long-term EDGE solution.