The Pittsburgh Steelers signed defensive end turned inside linebacker Jacoby Windmon as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. Windmon had an explosive 2021 season in college but his production went down after that as he started to deal with injuries and suspensions due to off-the-field issues.
Still, at 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, and just 22 years old, Windmon boasts high upside which attracted the Steelers. After his historic season at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2021, Windmon transferred to a tougher conference when he committed to Michigan State. Windmon impressed enough to win a starting job and started the first eight games of the season.
He posted solid numbers through eight games as he recorded 5.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss but then was suspended for the team’s final four games due to being involved in an altercation with several members of the Michigan football team in the tunnel at Michigan Stadium.
Windmon cleared the air following the incident, saying he was just breaking it up and saving a guy from being jumped. He did not want to be suspended but found peace with it.
“I kinda caught him and pushed him away aggressively, so I was suspended for shoving,” Windmon told Jim Wexell of 247Sports. “The other guys were jumping the guys. We don’t condone that kind of thing, but everything happens for a reason. …I treated it like a life lesson because the game of football was taken away from me. I felt like I couldn’t function at the time because that was one of my biggest years. I wanted to come out (for the draft) but I couldn’t leave that reputation of that being me, I wanted better for myself, better for Michigan State, so I came back another year.”
Windmon decided to forgo his final season of eligibility and declare for the draft. In the pre-draft process, Windmon ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash and showed decent agility but poor explosiveness and strength, posting a low 16 bench press reps and a 5.68 out of 10 overall Relative Athletic Score.
Despite his poor testing and decreasing production, the Steelers saw enough in him to give him a three-year deal as an undrafted free agent. With Cole Holcomb’s status to be seen, if he is going to miss training camp, it may give Windmon an outside shot of making the roster.
The thing going against Windmon’s chances is that the team drafted an inside linebacker in Payton Wilson and just signed a special teams ace at the position in Tyler Matakevich. Windmon’s best chance to make the roster is as a special teams player but with Matakevich back in town, Windmon may be competing for a spot on the team’s practice squad rather than a spot on the active roster.
A thing that is working as a benefit for Windmon is that he is being asked to showcase some pass rushing abilities, too. He had three seasons of five sacks or more in college. The extra versatility will do wonders for Windmon’s chances of making a roster.
“[Coach Aaron Curry] mentioned it,” Windmon said. “Just kind of bringing me down to get some work, just to add some depth and also show the defensive coordinator I’m versatile enough to do both, which adds more value for me. … I just want to get on the field but I do like to get after the quarterback and affect the game. That’s more important than anything. I’ve just been trying to focus on this middle linebacker position and all the things we’ve got to do. It is complex but it’s manageable. It’s doable.”
Windmon is in the same boat as guys like Tyler Murray and even Mark Robinson as guys who are now on the outside and looking in after all of the additions to the room this offseason. The “locks” at the position are newly signed Patrick Queen, Elandon Roberts, Holcomb, the rookie Wilson and likely Matakevich due to his special teams background.
With five spots likely occupied at the position already, and the Steelers history of carrying only four inside backers at a time, Windmon is in a log-jammed situation as an undrafted rookie.
45 • Jacoby Windmon, Inside Linebacker, Michigan State
6-foot-2, 250 pounds, 22 years old, 1st Season
Acquired: The Steelers signed Jacoby Windmon as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. He received a three-year contract from the Steelers.
Last Season: In 2023, Windmon started the first three games of the season before missing the final nine with an injury. Following the season, Windmon announced his intent to transfer for the second time in his career but declared for the NFL Draft instead.
He finished the season with 15 tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss for the Spartans in 2023.
College: Jacoby Windmon began his career at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas or UNLV. He enrolled early as a tight end prospect but moved to defensive end. He played in all 12 games as a true freshman and made 12 combined tackles and contributed on a sack.
In 2020, Windmon started all six of the Rebels game at defensive end and totaled 39 tackles, five sacks, and 6.5 tackles for a loss. Windmon earned All-Mountain West honorable mention nods following the season.
As a junior, Windmon took his game to another level for the Rebels. He started all 12 games and a career-high 118 combined tackles, six sacks and 11 tackles for loss. He earned second-team All-Mountain West after his career season. Following the season, Windmon decided to transfer to Michigan State.
He won a starting job in his first season with the Spartans and started the first eight games of the season, six at defensive end and two at linebacker. Windmon finished the game with a FBS-leading six forced fumbles, 49 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. He missed the final four games of the season due to partaking in a fight against players of the Michigan team in the tunnel before the game.
Over his five years in college, Windmon appeared in 41 games and totaled 233 total tackles, 18 sacks and 30.5 tackles for loss.
| Year | School | GP | Tackles | Sacks | TFLs |
| 2019 | UNLV | 12 | 12 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 2020 | UNLV | 6 | 39 | 5.0 | 6.5 |
| 2021 | UNLV | 12 | 118 | 6.0 | 11.0 |
| 2022 | Mich. St. | 8 | 49 | 5.5 | 10.5 |
| 2023 | Mich. St. | 3 | 15 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
Salary cap and future: Jacoby Windmon signed a three-year entry level undrafted free agent deal following the 2024 NFL Draft. If he makes the team and keeps his three-year deal, Windmon will earn $2.84 million in total money. If he is on the roster in 2024, he will cost $798,333 against the team’s cap space.
Windmon signed with a $10,000 signing bonus which is the only guaranteed money on the deal.
