A Brian Flores Connection Is Available in Free Agency
Free agency has all but wrapped up at this point in the offseason, but a few pieces of the puzzle still remain on the open market. Earlier this week, a new piece joined that free agency puzzle in the form of a Brian Flores connection and former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jamir Jones.
The team announced on Tuesday that Jones had been released following his third NFL season. During that 2022 season, the linebacker appeared in all 17 games, and while playing largely with the special teams, he also took 86 snaps with the defense. In all, he recorded 10 tackles and defended a pass.
Jones, a Notre Dame product who spent three seasons with the Irish, went undrafted in 2020 before catching on with the Houston Texans for training camp. However, he was waived by the team and wouldn’t appear in an NFL game during that season.
Then, Pittsburgh signed him in 2021, and he appeared in three games for the Steelers, including a start in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals. However, that would be the last time he suited up for Pittsburgh during that season. He was waived following that game and then spent 10 games with the Los Angeles Rams (where Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was at the time) before being waived again and finishing the season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In all, Jones appeared in 15 games during 2021, recording 10 tackles.
Considering his most recent linebackers coach, Brian Flores, is now the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, this is the most obvious fit for Jones and his next team. Moreso, he can bolster Minnesota’s EDGE presence while also taking some snaps at off-ball linebacker. The Vikings could use depth at both spots, so this could be an intriguing free agent for them to pursue.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.