Dawand Jones Claps Back At Negative Pre-Draft Process Claims

Former Ohio State Buckeyes offensive tackle Dawand Jones played each of the final 26 games of his career at right tackle.

Author:
Casey Smith
May 4, 2023 5:04 PM EDT

In this story:

Ohio State Buckeyes

Former Ohio State Buckeyes offensive tackle Dawand Jones was mocked as high as a late first-round pick in some 2023 NFL Draft projections but was widely considered a second-round selection.

He fell to the fourth round and was the first of two Buckeyes taken by the Cleveland Browns Saturday, but that sparked some questions: how he could take a two-round tumble in the draft?

BroBible's NFL reporter Dov Kleiman tweeted a report from Sports Illustrated's Monday Morning Quarterback NFL reporter Albert Breer Wednesday, and that elicited a response from Jones, himself.

"False like where do y'all get this information from," Jones wrote in a tweet.

So, what was the report that Jones claimed was incorrect?

"Fourth-rounder Dawand Jones’s predraft process went as sideways as possible (constant weight questions, handling of the Senior Bowl and pro day, telling teams his dream was to play in the NBA, not the NFL)," Breer wrote. "But the fourth round was a good place to bet on his immense talent."

The "constant weight questions" were that Jones weighed 400 pounds after not stepping on the scale at Ohio State's Pro Day on March 22. Former Minnesota Vikings general manager and The 33rd Team contributor Rick Spielman said this was the "first time" he "can remember" a player refusing to weigh in on his own volition.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Jones weighed in at 374 pounds and ran a 5.35 40-yard dash.

After Jones was drafted, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller liked what he saw from the Indianapolis native, saying he's able to "throw guys out of the club."

"Linemen are going to have a long day. They're going to need to pack a lunch to run around him because of that wing span," Miller said after Jones' No. 111 overall selection. "The quickness is not always there, but the power is a lot like Orlando Brown Jr. was coming out of Oklahoma, where you're going to have to figure out as a pass rusher how to work with him."