The 2023 NFL draft is one week away, and we here at Commanders Wire will look to profile multiple 2023 prospects daily leading up to day one of the draft.
We will focus on prospects who could be available for Washington and who fit a position of need. Our prospect profiles will not be exclusive to projected first-round picks only but also players who will be selected on the second and third days of the NFL draft.
The Commanders are first on the clock at No. 16 overall.
Today, we profile Ohio State offensive tackle Dawand Jones.
The numbers
Size: 6-foot-8, 374 pounds
40-yard dash: 5.35 seconds
Arms: 36 3/8″
Hands: 11 5/8″
Vertical jump: N/A
Broad jump: N/A
10-yard split: 1.92 seconds
Scouting report
Jones is a massive prospect with starting experience at Ohio State. His arms and wingspan are enormous, making him an ideal offensive tackle. Jones really opened eyes during his week at the Senior Bowl in January. He handled himself well against some of the top pass rushers in the game. Jones has a super-high ceiling, which, if he reaches, he will make multiple Pro Bowls.
Here’s Lance Zierlein of NFL.com’s scouting report on Jones:
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.
College stats
2019: True freshman appeared in nine games as a reserve at left tackle.
2020: Appeared in six games, making one start.
2021: Started all 13 games at right tackle, named second-team All-Big Ten.
2022: Started 11 games at right tackle for the Buckeyes.
Highlights
Fit with Commanders
Dawand Jones looks like a right tackle to begin his career. Could he move to left tackle? Maybe, but for now, most NFL teams will consider him a right tackle. The Commanders have done a lot of work on Jones, from the Senior Bowl throughout the pre-draft process. If the Commanders drafted Jones, he’d be the right tackle in 2023, moving free-agent signee Andrew Wylie inside to guard and Sam Cosmi over to left guard. Washington would prefer to keep Wylie at right tackle for 2023. Jones isn’t going to give an NFL team the type of versatility to move to guard. He’s a right tackle exclusively.
