Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
Cleveland Browns Dawand Jones, the massive offensive tackle from Ohio State who many predicted would go in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, fell all the way to the fourth round.
Many have been left wondering what caused Jones to fall so far in the draft, and now it seems that the truth behind his draft stock has finally been revealed.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Jones’ draft process was plagued with mishaps and issues that ultimately turned teams off to him. Breer reported that Jones dealt with constant weight questions, mishandled the Senior Bowl and Pro Day, and worse, actually told teams that his dream was to play in the NBA, not the NFL.
These revelations explain why Jones fell to the fourth round, despite being mocked by some as a top-10 pick. ProFootballFocus even had him going 11th overall to the Tennessee Titans a day before the draft, while 33rdTeam had him as high as 8th overall to the Atlanta Falcons and CBS had him going 13th to the New York Jets.
Jones, who stands at a massive 6’8 and 359 pounds, had a stellar senior season saw him allow zero sacks and zero QB hits, resulting in a grade of 82.1 by ProFootballFocus in 2022.
Ohio State’s Dawand Jones looking like a mammoth and using his size to easily run the pass rusher out of the rep at the #SeniorBowl. pic.twitter.com/DwY7LzKBXr
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) February 1, 2023
Jones’ talent is undeniable, but his draft process has left many wondering if he has the right mindset and work ethic to succeed at the next level. Only time will tell if he can prove the doubters wrong and become the dominant force many predicted him to be.