Dawand Jones DRAFT PROFILE – 2023 NFL DRAFT

Dawand Jones NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT INTRODUCTION

Dawand Jones was a standout athlete during his high school years at Ben Davis High School, where he was a four-star recruit. After considering offers from Michigan, Florida, and Auburn, Jones ultimately decided to join Ohio State, where he would continue to hone his skills and compete at the highest level of college sports.

During his freshman year in 2019, the Ohio State OT wasted no time in making an impact on the field. He saw action in four games, playing a total of 90 snaps for the Buckeyes. Despite his relative inexperience at the college level, he proved to be a valuable asset to the team, allowing no QB hurries, no QB hits, and just one sack while playing at left tackle. This impressive performance set the stage for what was to come in the years ahead.

Jones continued to build on his success during his sophomore year in 2020, playing in just three games but making the most of his 80 snaps on the field. Once again, he played at left tackle and remained a reliable and effective player. Over the course of the season, he conceded just one QB hurry, not a single QB hit, and no sacks. It was clear that Jones was establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with on the Buckeyes’ offensive line.

As a junior in 2021, Jones saw action in all but one of the team’s 14 games, playing a total of 791 snaps. This time, he was positioned at right tackle, but he proved to be just as capable in this new role. Although he gave up 7 QB hurries, one QB hit, and 3 sacks over the course of the season, his overall performance was still impressive. It was clear that Jones was continuing to develop and refine his skills as a player.

In his senior year of 2022, Jones continued to impress, playing in 11 games and logging a total of 693 snaps. He played exclusively at right tackle and demonstrated his versatility as a player. Over the course of the season, he allowed just 4 QB hurries, no QB hits, and not a single sack. His consistency and reliability were a key factor in the Buckeyes’ success on the field.

Dawand Jones DRAFT PROFILE

Dawand Jones is a player that inspires awe and admiration on the field. He is an absolute mauler in the run game, using his massive size and impressive power to blast open running lanes and bulldoze over his opponents. As a run blocker, Jones is nothing short of dominant. He engulfs his opponents, putting them on skates and making it virtually impossible for them to stand their ground. He has ideal block temperament, aggression, and tenacity, making him a force to be reckoned with on the field.

 

Dawand Jones 40 YARD DASH- 5.45 SECONDS

Dawand Jones NFL DRAFT PLAYER COMPARISON- Orlando Brown Jr.

 

SCOUTING REPORT- STRENGTHS

One of Jones’ most notable assets is his exceptional length. He uses it effectively in pass protection, where he excels at protecting his edges and elongating rush lanes. His grip strength is outstanding, frequently stunning opponents with his powerful hands that are not easily displaced. While he may not have the most nimble feet, Jones is a patient pass blocker, competing to stay square and working deliberately to keep rushers at bay.

Dawand Jones is a player that possesses a rare combination of size, length, strength, and athleticism that makes him stand out on the field. At 6’8″ and 375 lbs, he is a true mountain of a man, with a massive 7’5″ wingspan that puts him in the 100th percentile for all measurable attributes relative to the NFL combine. This sheer size and strength make him utterly devastating in the run game, allowing him to blow through linemen and create wide running lanes for his team with leverage.

Jones shows great awareness, with a keen ability to read moving bodies and react and adjust accordingly. He shows a good feel for combo blocks, making him an effective and reliable blocker in a variety of different situations. When it comes to pass protection, Jones plays with a good, wide base that allows him to easily hold up against the bull rush. He has the powerful long arms required for a pro left tackle, combined with surprising lateral quickness that enables him to stay with speed rushers on the edge.

The two year starter at Ohio State has natural knee bend and leverage make him at his best when fighting in a phone booth as a run blocker, where his sheer size and strength can take over. It is this combination of physical attributes and technical ability that makes Jones a formidable player on the field, and one that is sure to be a force to be reckoned with at the next level.

SCOUTING REPORT- WEAKNESSES

Despite his impressive movement skills for his size, Jones’ lower body and feet can be tight and heavy, creating some challenges in pass protection against explosive and twitchy rushers. While he is effective at using his length, power, and hand usage to protect his edges and elongate the path for rushers, his feet often lag behind and he lacks the reactive athleticism to keep pace. This can lead to struggles in redirecting his weight and creating a two-way go for rushers. His lack of foot speed is a major knock for offenses running an RPO type system, like the Philadelphia Eagles, or any high scoring offense that likes to see mobility out of their linemen.

Additionally, the Ohio State Buckeyes tackle is top-heavy with unnecessary weight, which may lead to some limitations in terms of positional and schematic versatility. He may benefit from dropping weight and working toward a more balanced frame in order to maximize his potential as a player. He’s far from a bad athlete given Jones size, but it certainly limits his effectiveness against speed edge rushers and this will hurt his NFL draft stock.

Dawand Jones 2023 NFL DRAFT SUMMARY

Despite these limitations, Dawand Jones has the makings of a quality starter at the next level, with plenty of dominant moments to his name. However, his restrictions could lead to some variance based on matchups, and he may not offer the most appeal in terms of positional and schematic versatility.

Almost all of Dawand Jones’ experience in college came at right tackle, so his ability to adapt to different roles and positions may be limited. Nonetheless, the Ohio State Buckeyes tackle is a player that is sure to leave his mark on the field, with a power and tenacity that is unmatched by many of his peers.

Plus Side:

• Rare length and size
• Great pass catcher
• Big play possibility on every down

Negatives:

• Limited mobility
• Tight lower half
• Projects as left tackle in NFL, but rarely played there at Ohio State

Dawand Jones’ name is flying up draft boards thanks to his solid performance at the Senior Bowl. He’s our 54th ranked prospect on our 2023 NFL draft big board, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Ohio State OT going as high as the middle of the first round.