Cleveland Browns post-draft scouting report #3: Ohio State Buckeyes star RT Dawand Jones

Profile: Dawand Jones was born on August 6^th, 2001 in Indianapolis, IN. In high school, Jones was ranked as a four-star recruit (38^th OT nationally) coming out of Ben Davis High School by ESPN, soon accepting an offer by Ohio State to play football after being a high school basketball sensation.

In 2021, Jones would soon emerge as a starter for the buckeyes and would soon be named as a member of the All-Big 10 second team at the conclusion of his junior year and a first-team All-American after his senior year, breaking numerous expectations for OSU.

During the NFL Draft process, Jones was expected to go mid 1^st round – early 2^nd round but fell due to many draft expectations that he didn’t love football as much as he did with basketball, a similar thing happened to Siaki Ika during the draft process.

After being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 4^th round, it’s seems the Browns got the steal of a lifetime with a dominating RT ready in the backup role, it’s only up to him to take the game of football seriously while he’s here.

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

Age: 21 years old

Arm Length: 36 3/8”

Hand Size: 11 5/8”

Height/Weight: 6’3”, 359lbs

NFL Combine Results: 40-yard dash: 5.35 & 10-yard split: 1.92

2023 NFL Draft: 111^th overall pick (4^th round) by the Cleveland Browns

Ideal Role: A true right tackle that uses his size and strength to dominates gap running schemes

 

Strengths:

#Browns OT Dawand Jones (No. 74) taking coaching from arguably the best in the biz in Bill Callahan pic.twitter.com/x41Q65OsAL

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) May 12, 2023

• Once in a lifetime freak of nature at 6’8 and over 350 pounds; you wonder if this guy was made in a lab like Frankenstein when you watch his tape, especially when you consider his elite arm length at 36” long
• Easily picks up and processes twists/stunts and complex rushes
• The (not so gentle) giant; he will bulldoze through defenders coming downhill given his relentless motor

Weaknesses:

Dawand Jones showed some frustration today. Bill Callahan was coaching him up. #Browns pic.twitter.com/0XZkrO1uFH

— Hayden Grove (@H_Grove) May 12, 2023

• Plays too tall for his own good; the most experienced defensive linemen will get under his pads and have freewill of control over the giant
• Plays too considerably stiff in space to be a left tackle, just doesn’t naturally transition in open field situations, especially in the NFL
• Struggles to control momentum and hips on run plays, he’s like a Lamborghini with a first time driver

 

 

Career Achievements: 2x All-Big Ten second team (2021, 2022), & 2022 First-team All-American

 

Fun Fact: During Cleveland Browns rookie minicamp, Dawand Jones is being mentored into becoming a LT, creating a possible position battle situation in order to see who will be protecting Deshawn Watson’s blindside

NFL Projection for Dawand Jones: Cincinnati Bengals OT Orlando Brown Jr

 

Final Verdict: B- draft grade; A clear work in progress and will likely be the Browns backup RT by opening day but can become an A+ grade if he’s able to transition properly to the LT role