Browns select Dawand Jones in 4th round of 2023 NFL Draft

Former Ohio State Buckeye and massive offensive tackle Dawand Jones has landed at his new NFL home. After declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft following a four-year career in Columbus, Jones was selected with the 111th overall pick in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns.

The Indianapolis native’s decision to turn pro came after a successful four years with OSU at the college level. Jones played in the majority of the Buckeyes’ games from the minute he stepped foot on campus and appeared in nine games as a true freshman — which is quite rare for an offensive tackle at a school as prestigious as OSU. Of course, from there, he only improved, eventually developing into the team’s rock at RT.

Jones always had the size to step in and play right away in the NFL. At 6-foot-8 and 374 pounds, this Buckeye is a gargantuan force on the right side of the line. You’d be hard pressed to find a single NFL tackle with his size, much less a kid in college. Whether his sheer size ultimately makes him impactful right away remains to be seen, but best of wishes to this billboard of a tackle on beginning his pro journey.

Jones played high school football at Indianapolis (IN) Ben Davis, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 719 overall recruit in the 2019 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a complete and weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Dawand Jones

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein broke down Wright’s profile over on NFL.com, where he wrote the following about the former Tennessee star:

“Massive right tackle with rare length but limited athleticism that impacts his consistency. Defenders accustomed to winning with power will need to switch up their approach against Jones. His physical traits help cover up some of his athletic deficiencies, while his power can be better unleashed with accurate hand strikes and a run scheme tailored to what he does best. The former high school basketball standout has decent slide quickness in protection but is unable to find his feet when attempting to match inside counters or stall out gaming fronts. Jones is a work in progress with holes that will have to be covered up with scheme help, but he should become a starting right tackle if he maintains the playing weight his team desires.”

Given his size and production profile, there’s a lot to like about Jones’ promise, which is why he’s been drafted so high.