INDIANAPOLIS — Former Houston Cougars offensive tackle Josh Jones is willing to play either side of the offensive line for whatever team selects him in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Richmond George Bush High School alumnus has played left tackle for Houston throughout his four seasons, but says he is willing to play right at the pro level if called upon.
“I’m versatile,” Jones said at the NFL Scouting Combine Wednesday. “If anything, I got to work at it. If a team asks me to play right, I’m just going to get in there every day and work at it, make it second nature, make it like my left.”
Jones hasn’t played right tackle in any meaningful way since 2017 when he played up to two series at most in a game. The 6-7, 310-pounder has taken snaps in practice, but he has never started a game as a right tackle.
“If a team asks me to do it, I’m going to work at it, get better and be able to produce,” said Jones.
The Cougar probably won’t have the hometown story that former Texas A&M 12th Man Cullen Gullaspia had when the Houston Texans drafted him in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Jones is slated to go in the first round, and the Texans don’t have a pick until No. 57, deep in the second round. Even so, the Texans don’t exactly have a spot for Jones with Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil on the left side and 2019 first-round Tytus Howard, who made PFWA’s all-rookie team, on the right.
Whoever ends up with Jones, they are going to get an offensive lineman who has developed a mean streak along with refined technique after playing out his redshirt senior year.
“I just wanted to bury guys every single time I got out there,” said Jones. “My O-line coach, Brandon Jones, pushed me to do that, to be violent out there. I actually feel like that’s one thing I wasn’t showing on tape so far.”
If Jones goes in the first round, he could be the only player from a Texas college this year to go within the first 32 picks.
“I think I’m one of the best tackles in this draft,” Jones said. “Whatever team takes me, is gonna get a good ball player.”