Jarvis Jones Contract Overview and NFL Career
Jarvis Jones was an American football linebacker drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, selected 17th overall from the University of Georgia. His initial rookie contract was a four-year deal worth approximately $7.7 million, including a signing bonus near $3.7 million, as reported by NFL contract databases and team announcements. Jones played primarily as an outside linebacker and special teams contributor during his time with the Steelers and later the Arizona Cardinals, with his career cut short by multiple concussions and related health concerns. His contract is often studied as an example of a high draft pick whose production did not match the financial commitment due to injury and performance issues.
The structure of the Jarvis Jones contract included standard rookie scale terms under the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, with base salary increases in the second and third years. The deal was not a franchise tag or max contract extension, and it reflected the market value for a first-round outside linebacker at the time. Jones recorded 10.5 career sacks in the regular season over parts of four NFL seasons, with his best statistical year coming in 2013 when he started 13 games and logged 34 tackles and 4.5 sacks. The contract is frequently referenced in discussions about draft capital risk and the importance of durability for high-paid defensive players.
Jarvis Jones Earnings, Salary Breakdown, and Team Transactions
Base Salary and Cap Hits
During the first year of the Jarvis Jones contract, his base salary was set at around $535,000, with a cap hit of roughly $1.8 million after the signing bonus proration. In the second year, his base salary increased to approximately $1.3 million, and the cap hit rose to around $2.4 million as the bonus amortization decreased. The third and fourth years of the deal carried higher base salaries, but Jones was released by the Steelers before the start of the 2017 season after failing a physical, which ended his contract early and saved the team future cap space. His total guaranteed money was fully paid out through the initial term, and he did not receive any additional extensions or restructured deals with Pittsburgh or Arizona.
After being waived by the Steelers, Jones signed with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year contract in 2016, which was a veteran minimum deal with a base salary of around $775,000 and a cap hit near $825,000. He appeared in 11 games for the Cardinals that season, recording 16 tackles and no sacks, before being placed on injured reserve with a concussion issue. The Cardinals did not offer a multi-year extension, and Jones remained a free agent for the remainder of his NFL career. His total career earnings from NFL contracts are estimated to be in the range of $9 million to $10 million, including base salaries, bonuses, and per-game roster bonuses from both teams.
Jarvis Jones Post-NFL Career and Contract Legacy
Injury History and Career Impact
Jarvis Jones underwent multiple concussion evaluations during his NFL career, which led to his placement on injured reserve and eventual release by the Steelers. The injury history directly affected the long-term value of his contract, as teams often factor durability into the financial terms offered to high draft picks. His case is cited in sports finance analyses as a cautionary example of how medical issues can reduce the return on investment for a franchise, even when the player was a top prospect out of college. The contract structure itself followed standard rookie terms, but the early termination and lack of extensions limited his total earnings compared to players who remained healthy and productive.
Since leaving the NFL, Jarvis Jones has not been publicly linked to any new professional sports contracts or significant business deals that would add