How Dawand Jones Could Factor Into Cleveland Browns Offensive Line Plans in 2026

Over the past few seasons Dawand Jones has remained a massive question mark for the Cleveland Browns offensive line.

The 6’8” 375 pound tackle has shown flashes of being able to match against the league’s best pass rushers, while also struggling with the easy assignments and drawing too many penalties. On top of that, he’s had serious injury concerns since entering the league, never playing over 12 games in a season.

Now in an offseason where the Browns plan to fully rebuild the offensive line, a priority is going to be figuring out Jones’ role moving forward.

What Jones brings

During Jones rookie season in 2023, he stepped up right away by spending most of one his first games in isolation against TJ Watt. Jones won that battle, keeping Watt contained for most of the day.

He looked like a freak athlete for his size with good footwork and the ability to just overwhelm and out-muscle defenders. He claimed the starting job, until finally suffering a season-ending injury.

During his sophomore season, Jones took a clear step back when asked to transition to left tackle. While he still showed flashes of his former self, he wasn’t moving the same and never looked like he fully got healthy. Then, after just 10 games and eight starts, Jones went down with yet another injury.

This past season was the worst of all. In just three games before suffering a season-ending injury, Jones was called for five penalties and allowed eight pressures. He logged a PFF grade of just 32.8, and was especially bad in the run game.

Now last year, the Browns entire offensive line play was bad. The coaching was rough, the team was undisciplined, and the quarterback play didn’t help.

With an offseason to try and get healthy, Jones possesses the skills and talent needed to beat out anyone for a starting job on the line. It’s just a matter of getting back to his old self.

If Jones does manage to prove he could be a starter, Cleveland could move him back to his natural position of right tackle and have Tytus Howard move to left, where he began his career.

How Jones impacts the draft

It’s no surprise that Cleveland seems poised to select an offensive tackle in the first round of the draft, either with the 6th or 24th pick.

Jones just being on the roster may give Cleveland the confidence to hold off on selecting a tackle with the 6th pick, unless there is a prospect they just like too much to pass on. Cleveland could instead either trade back a few spots and collect more draft capital, or take the team’s other major need, a wide receiver.

If Cleveland misses out at tackle at pick six, there should be talent still on the board at 24. Guys like Monroe Freeling, Spencer Fano, Francis Mauigoa, Kayden Proctor and Caleb Lomu all carry first round grades, and at least one will certainly fall to the late rounds stages.

The Browns can also worry a little less about who they select, as Jones can give them some time to develop.

Final verdict

This is Jones last chance to prove he can be a piece of the Browns moving forward. He needs to stay relatively healthy and beat out any rookies for a starting job.

Cleveland will be taking a rookie somewhere in the first two rounds. A training camp battle will ensue. If the rookie wins, Jones moves into a veteran role of having to help transition the younger players and get them ready for the NFL. Then Jones will likely be done in Cleveland and head to another team needing some line help, either via a midseason trade or a new contract in the offseason.