Former Ohio State Buckeye Dawand Jones is looking for a new role as he enters year three in the NFL.
Former Ohio State Buckeye Dawand Jones burst onto the scene in the NFL but has been searching for his professional identity for the majority of the last two seasons.
Jones' superpower is his insane size. When well managed, it is such a positive; however, when it gets out of hand, it can become his biggest challenge to overcome.
When he was a rookie, Jones was thrust into a starting spot for the Cleveland Browns and basically started his career looking like a bonafied starting tackle. Then, he suffered his first of three season-ending injuries.
At the end of his rookie year, he suffered a torn MCL, which ended his 2023 season. Then, in 2024, it was a disappointing start to the year that just got worse. Late in the season, he got rolled up on during a game, and he broke his ankle, which cost him year number two.
Finally, last season, it was unfortunately the same song. The former Buckeye suffered a torn LCL and a hamstring injury that cost him his season.
Now, as he enters year number four, it is the most important season of his young career. Year four is his contract season, and all he has shown to this point is an inability to stay on the field and a talent level that has just decreased from his rookie year until now.
Credit to Jones, he is approaching this season with incredible urgency.
He has slimmed down by losing nearly 50 pounds, and as the Browns have addressed their line issues by drafting a tackle and signing another, Jones is set to fight for his life, at least in Cleveland, at the tackle position.
He isn't just accepting that. Jones is working with the Cleveland staff to not only perfect his craft as a swing tackle but also to work on his ability to potentially move down to the guard position.
Now, for Jones, I don't believe that to be a good long-term fit for him. However, there is nothing wrong with extending and growing his value. If he bumps down and plays a somewhat decent guard, he can then just add that to his resume.
Whatever it is, Jones has the next eight months to prove that he is meant to be in this league and that he can be an answer for someone, somewhere on their offensive line.
If he can prove that he still has that Ohio State Dawand Jones in him, then he will keep his NFL career alive.
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