Dawand Jones Deepens Case For Best Rookie Tackle

Jones excelled again in Week 7 and is off to one of the best starts among rookie tackles this season

The hype about Dawand Jones won’t be slowing down anytime soon — not after the rookie tackle posted another banner performance in Week 8.

Jones, a fourth-round pick out of Ohio State, continued to build on his excellent start to the season with a sack-free performance in the Cleveland Browns’ 39-38 win over the Colts. Jones allowed just one QB pressure, per Pro Football Focus, and was given an 82.9 run block grade, which was his highest of the season.

Jones’ 70.5 overall offensive grade was his second-best of the season. It was also the second straight week that he posted grades of 70 or better. He’s allowed just one sack all season.

At six games, the sample size is still relatively small for Jones, but he’s building a case toward being labeled the top offensive tackle of the 2023 draft class.

Of the five rookie tackles with 250 snaps this season, Jones has allowed the fewest sacks and is tied for the fewest pressures allowed with just 10.

5 rookie tackles have played at least 250 snaps this season.

Browns RT Dawand Jones has allowed the fewest sacks (1) and joint-fewest pressures (10).

He was drafted in the 4th round.

— Sam Monson (@SamMonsonNFL) October 23, 2023

Jones is 6-foot-8 and 375 pounds and has proven early in his career that he can use all of his frame to his advantage. The Browns might’ve been lucky to find Jones in the fourth round, and he appeared to slip only due to concerns about his commitment to football.

Aug 17, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Dawand Jones (74) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field / Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Those concerns, though, have certainly been squashed. He’s thrived under the tutelage of Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who has molded plenty of top-tier tackles over a coaching career that spans over four decades, and could cement himself as the right tackle of the future for the Browns.

Jones only received a starting job after Jack Conklin suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1. If Jones continues to play well, the Browns could have a tough decision to make at the position next season between Jones and Conklin, who signed a four-year contract extension last December.

That’s a problem for the future, though. For now, the Browns should feel fortunate about potentially stealing one of the draft class’s top linemen.