Dawand Jones Scouting Report and NFL Draft Profile
Dawand Jones Scouting Report: Ohio State Buckeyes, Offensive Tackle
2023 NFL Draft Measurements
6’8″ / 374 lbs.
Hand Size – 11 5/8″
Arm Length – 36 1/2″
Wingspan – 87 3/4″
Dawand Jones Draft Profile
Jones is a former 3-star recruit out of Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. In high school, he was a two-sport athlete where he played football and basketball. Even though he received several Division I scholarships for basketball, he decided to continue his football career. In the 2019 recruiting class, 247sports had him as the 12th-best prospect in Indiana. Some players he was ranked behind include George Karlaftis, David Bell, and Joe Tippmann. Additionally, they had him ranked as the 83rd-best offensive tackle in the nation. Prior to committing to Ohio State, he received offers from 21 Division I programs. After narrowing down his options to USC, Penn State, and Ohio State, he chose to play for the Buckeyes.
Dawand Jones Strengths
Power
When watching his film, the first thing that stood out to me was his power and ability to neutralize defenders. After the ball is snapped, Jones does a good job of being the first one to engage in contact. At the point of attack, he uses his length and upper body strength to deliver a powerful punch which given his size will likely for the defender onto their heels. Once they are on his heels, he makes sure to put his hands in the perfect position to keep them contained. This is very useful when pass-protecting because it keeps a clean pocket and buys his QB some time to make a play.
Active Feet
For an offensive lineman of his size, I was impressed with how active his lower body is when blocking. When the ball is snapped he has a relatively fast kick which allows him to block speed rushers who can quickly run the arc. Additionally, he does a good job of keeping his feet moving when engaged in contact. This combined with his upper and lower body strength is very dangerous because not only does it take away their leverage, it also drives them away from the ball. His active feet also help him to open up inside run lanes for running backs.
Length
As mentioned in his measurements, Jones has a wingspan that is longer than 7 feet. This allows him to be the first one to engage in contact and keep defenders away from his body. It is also very useful when adjusting to stunts and twists where 3-techniques cut to the outside and try to bullrush Jones. But, given his well above-average length and size, this rarely happens. His long arms also help him to contain speed rushers who beat him on the outside immediately after the snap.
Dawand Jones Weaknesses
Size
There are not too many scouts out there who seem to be concerned about Jones’ size. But personally, it is the only major concern that I have surrounding his game. Here is why, I am concerned that he will be very injury prone in the NFL and will never be able to fully recover from said injuries. If you want me to use a recent example, I will just throw Mekhi Becton’s name out there. Since entering the league, he has not been able to be a reliable lineman because he is constantly injured or rehabbing from those injuries. If Jones is able to stay healthy, this should not be a weakness in his game. However, I find it hard to believe a lineman of his size will have a career with little to no injuries.
Pad Level
This kind of goes along with his size in a way. Given that he is 6’8″, it is often very difficult for him to keep his pad level low to gain leverage. So, more often than not, he is forced to make blocks primarily with his upper body. When in the trenches, that is the last thing you want to rely on. In reality, in the trenches, the low man wins most of the time.
Dawand Jones Draft Stock
As of today, NFL Mock Draft Database has Jones as the 41st-best prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. Personally, I could not disagree more with this ranking. When watching his film, there is not much that really amazes me aside from his power. With that being said, I would have to give Jones a late 3rd round grade at best. As I mentioned earlier, if you can guarantee that he will be healthy for his entire career, then he will be a great early 2nd round pick. However, I find that to be very unlikely.
Final Thoughts on Dawand Jones Scouting Report
Other than his power at the point of attack, there is not much that Jones brings to the table that impresses me. Yeah sure he has long arms and can keep defenders away from his body. But, will he be able to do that on a consistent basis? Will he be able to lock down elite speed rushers like Nick Bosa? Personally, I don’t think so. Additionally, I did mention earlier that he has active feet for a lineman of his size, but that speed is marginal compared to most offensive linemen. When I watch him play, I keep getting glimpses of the future of him being on the IR for a majority of games just like Mekhi Becton. If he wants to have any chance of making it far in the NFL, he should drop down to 340-350 lbs so he can improve his foot speed.
Dawand Jones Player Comparison
Dawand Jones Scouting Report and Player Profile Analyst – Matthew Lewis
