Steelers 2-a-days: 1st-year offensive linemen Jarron Jones, John Keenoy seek to stand out

Editor’s note: Leading up to a unique Pittsburgh Steelers training camp staged at Heinz Field this year, the Tribune-Review will be running through the team’s 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2020 season. The breakdown will go through the roster, in mostly alphabetical order, two per day, between June 9 and July 23, a day originally planned to be reporting day for players to camp. (Contract data courtesy spotrac.com)

Jarron Jones (@Who_GotJones94) led the Irish D with 6 TFL in our win over Miami.

Here's Every. Single. One. pic.twitter.com/LKrpD0rKEy

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) October 30, 2016

OT JARRON JONES

Experience: Played in the XFL this spring; part of offseason, camp or practice-squad rosters of six NFL teams over three seasons

Contract status: $610,000 cap hit in 2020, under contractual control for four years

2020 outlook: Jones has yet to play in an NFL game, is 26 years old and has moved to a new position while a pro. That sounds a lot like Alejandro Villanueva, who was a defensive tackle when the Steelers picked him up in 2014. He became their starting left tackle for five seasons and counting. It remains to be seen if Jones can pull a similar trick. At 6-foot-6, 320 pounds with long arms, he fits the profile. But, obviously, time is ticking on the prime of his career. For perspective, he’s older than every player from each of the Steelers’ past four draft classes.

Bottom line: Jones always has had the requisite size and raw skillset — he was a highly regarded recruit to Notre Dame and at one point was considered a mid-round draft choice. But he has bounced around with six NFL teams, switched sides of the ball and has played only in preseason and XFL games. If offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett sees enough potential in Jones, he could make the practice squad as a developmental prospect. A possible bonus: Jones showed special teams ability in college.

New Vikings center, and UDFA signing, John Keenoy allowed a pressure on just 0.9% of his pass-blocking snaps last season – tied for the best rate in the draft class pic.twitter.com/yvECYL94OF

— PFF (@PFF) May 2, 2019

C JOHN KEENOY

Experience: Undrafted last year, spent time on Vikings practice squad and with the XFL’s Dallas Renegades

Contract status: $610,000 cap hit in 2020, under contractual control for four years

2020 outlook: Keenoy is one of the NFL-high nine XFL alumni the Steelers signed. A former teammate of Steelers tackle Chuks Okorafor (as well as Steelers backup linebacker Robert Spillane) at Western Michigan, the 6-3, 300-pound Keenoy was a four-year starter in college. With the NFL expanding the sizes of its active roster and practice squad in the new collective bargaining agreement, a center specialist has more of a chance to stick on a roster.

Bottom line: Keenoy never wowed with his measurables, but his durable college career suggests he is a gamer. The Steelers are always on the lookout for quality depth along their offensive line, so if Keenoy can show some worth, he has a path to, at least, the practice squad.

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