NFL Draft: Ohio State Dawand Jones Proving at Senior Bowl He's a Round 1 Lock
The first day of practices is underway, but before the players even hit the field, one of the biggest winners at the 2023 Senior Bowl was Dawand Jones from Ohio State.
While conversations have been circulating about whether or not he's a first-round offensive tackle prospect in the NFL Draft, he certainly made a strong case for himself when he measured in at the Senior Bowl.
Jones has a ridiculous frame, measuring in at 6-foot-8 with 11 3/8" hands, 36 5/8" arms, and an 89 1/2" wingspan, which is the longest wingspan in Senior Bowl history. Those measurements alone will put him in the conversation to be a first round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Now, the 375 pounds he weighed in at might concern most, but he told reporters in Mobile that he's down to 24% body fat, which is 3% less than last year. And if you're worried about his movement ability at the size, you can put that to rest.
Here he is, taking on the athletic EDGE rusher Isaiah Foskey from Notre Dame:
Now you get his explosive burst out of his stance. Jones can quickly get to the defender's chest, control the rep, and out-leverage him with his pure strength and overall pass.
Here he is again taking on Foskey:
But how's his technique at that size? Jones is showing off his hand technique and ability to mirror defenders. For his height, he's well-balanced, with good hand-eye coordination to match the defender's pass rush.
Here he is taking on EDGE rusher DJ Johnson from Oregon:
Size alone is going to get him looked at as a first round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but you pair that with his technique and movement skills that he's showing at the Senior Bowl and he's already starting to lock his name into that conversation.
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- 2023 NFL Draft Guide
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