Tag: Dawand Jones

Grading every rookie’s season from the Browns’ 2023 NFL draft class

How did the 2023 class fair in their rookie seasons?

Offensive tackle Dawand Jones led all rookies of the Cleveland Browns from the 2023 NFL draft. How did the class as a whole grade out?

Leading up to the 2023 NFL draft, general manager Andrew Berry traded the second-round pick of the Browns as part of a package to get Elijah Moore from the New York Jets. Berry would double down to fix the wide receiver room, taking Cedric Tillman with the team’s first selection in the third round.

It wasn’t a great start for Tillman as a rookie though the position overall was improved from 2022. The team got significant production out of multiple day three picks as well as an undrafted free agent that helped the team make the playoff push this season.

There were also a few players that didn’t play enough to show if they can be NFL players long term though not seeing the field could point in one direction after all the injuries the team had this year. Here is how I grade this past year’s draft classes rookie seasons in Cleveland.

Dawand Jones named to PFWA All-Rookie team

Dawand Jones named to PFWA All-Rookie team #GoBucks

It still shocks me that Dawand Jones fell to the fourth round in the 2023 NFL Draft, but I guess everyone is well aware of the mistake that was now. We as Ohio State football fans have great memories of Big Thanos and how dominant he was during his two seasons starting for the Buckeyes in 2021 and 2022.

Jones earned All-Big Ten honors both seasons and was named an All-American in 2022. Most Ohio State fans were shocked to learn that Jones was even coming back his senior season, because of the rumors of him being an early-round selection in 2022 were so rampant, which makes him falling to the fourth round the next season even more shocking.

The Cleveland Browns selected Jones in the fourth round and planned on placing him in the oven to bake for a bit before throwing him to the wolves, but the injury bug hit Cleveland hard this season and Jones was thrust into the starting lineup in week 2 and never looked back.

Jones started ten games this season for the Browns until he suffered his own season-ending injury, but Jones has a bright future in the NFL and him being named to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team is just the start.

4 biggest surprises from the Browns’ 11-win 2023 campaign

Who caught our eye this year and exceeded expectations?

The Cleveland Browns were pleasantly surprised by the performances of quarterback Joe Flacco, kicker Dustin Hopkins, and offensive tackle Dawand Jones this year en route to an 11-win season.

While the season did not end the way the Browns would have dreamt it up, losing to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round, they over-achieved this season given that 26 percent of their starting lineup ended up on Injured Reserve this season. They took a true “next man up” mentality into the season and showed a tremendous amount of resilience to grind out tough wins.

This would not have been possible without players stepping up, players we might not have imagined would step up when their number was called. Rookies had to start, quarterbacks were signed off the couch, and kickers were traded for right at the end of training camp.

Here are four players who stood out the most and exceeded expectations for the Browns this season.

Three former Ohio State football players featured in CBS Sports’ All-Rookie Team

Some good news for former Buckeyes. #GoBucks

It’s always great to look around the NFL and see former Ohio State football players finding success. This year, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud leading the Houston Texans to an AFC South title a year after winning just three games was one of the biggest storylines in the NFL.

Between Stroud, Puka Nacua, and many more it was a strong rookie class in the NFL this season. CBS Sports NFL writer, Chris Trapasso, recently released his 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team on Monday.

The list included three former Buckeyes which were Texans’ quarterback C.J. Stroud, Browns’ right tackle Dawand Jones, and Browns safety Ronnie Hickman.

Stroud’s success with the Texans has been well documented as he had a historically good rookie year as he even generated MVP buzz before missing two weeks with a concussion.

Jones was a fourth-round pick to Cleveland and quickly was put into a starting role after Jack Conklin went down with a season-ending knee injury.  He stepped up big time in particular as a pass protector in his 11 appearances before a knee injury in week 13 unfortunately ended his season.

Hickman was signed by the Browns after going undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft. He earned a roster spot with a strong preseason where had three interceptions. When Grant Delpit went out with a groin injury, Hickman stepped into a bigger role and has found success most notably with a pick six in a week 17 matchup with the Jets on Thursday Night Football.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Evan Bachman on X.

Dawand Jones ruled out for the season with knee injury

Former Ohio State and current Cleveland Browns right tackle, Dawand Jones, will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Former Ohio State and current Cleveland Browns right tackle, Dawand Jones, missed the Browns matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday with a knee injury. On Monday, it has been announced that Jones is out for the season, with the injury requiring season-ending surgery.

The rookie tackle was drafted by the Browns in the fourth round.  He moved into a starting role at right tackle after Jack Conklin went down in the season opener.

Jones has quickly raised eyebrows with his play as he has been regarded as one of the best rookie offensive tackles this season in his 11 appearances and nine start. It all suggests that he deserved to come off the board sooner than he did in April’s NFL draft.

This is unfortunate news for the former Buckeye and we wish him the best in his recovery from the injury.

 

Browns RT Dawand Jones downgraded to OUT vs. Jaguars

James Hudson III will get the start.

Already dealing with a plethora of injuries as the season has taken its toll, the Cleveland Browns will now be without their promising rookie right tackle as they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. After tweaking his knee this week in practice, Dawand Jones will miss his second game of the season as the Browns look to advance to 8-5 on the season.

In his absence, swing tackle James Hudson III likely gets the start. Hudson has spot-started multiple games for the Browns over the past two seasons, most recently in their win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11. Already starting a backup left tackle as well, the Browns will need another solid showing from Hudson and Geron Christian against the formidable pass rush of the Jaguars.

Former top-five pick Josh Allen is having a career year for the Jaguars, who also field a former first overall pick in Trevon Walker. Former first round pick K’Lavon Chaisson and veteran Dawaune Smoot provide solid depth for Jacksonville as well.

Can the backup tackles get the job done again as they did against Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt earlier this season?

Browns Injury Report: Amari Cooper, Denzel Ward, Dawand Jones all uncertain vs. Jaguars

Here is the final injury report of this Week 14 game

The Cleveland Browns might be getting as healthy as they possibly can at the right time as the Jacksonville Jaguars come to town. Despite a late injury this week to Dawand Jones that leaves him questionable, the Browns may just get back wide receiver Amari Cooper and cornerback Denzel Ward in time to suit up on Sunday afternoon at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

At the same time, the Jaguars are limping into this Week 14 matchup off of a loss to the Jake Browning-led Cincinnati Bengals on a short week. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is questionable for this game after suffering a high-ankle sprain, but all 10 Jaguars are either out or questionable for this game in Northeast Ohio.

Needing a win to lock in a firm grasp on a playoff spot, the Browns have the opportunity to bounce back at home and advance to 8-5 on the season. Who will be on the field, however?

Here is every Cleveland player who was unable to practice or was limited in practice on Friday during the Browns’ final tune-up.

Browns RT Dawand Jones tweaks knee in practice, questionable vs. Jaguars

Another injury might be added to the list for the Browns as right tackle Dawand Jones is now questionable vs. the Jaguars

The Cleveland Browns have gotten some good injury news today, but also some bad as they prepare to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. While they got wide receiver Amari Cooper and David Njoku back to practice on Friday, another key contributor exited practice after tweaking his knee. Right tackle Dawand Jones is now questionable against the Jaguars as the Browns will monitor his situation up to game time.

Sitting in Week 14, both of these teams are having their success pre-determined by injuries on paper. The Jaguars will be without wide receiver Christian Kirk, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence is a game-time decision after suffering a high ankle sprain on Monday night.

The Browns have already had to overcome insurmountable injuries to get to 7-5 this season, and Jones may just be another tally to add to the total. If he cannot go on Sunday at home, look for James Hudson III to start against the Jaguars.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=646863720]

Browns rookie Dawand Jones proving to be the steal of the 2023 NFL Draft

Dawand Jones is proving that he clearly should not have fallen all the way into the fourth round

It’s not everyday you see a rookie offensive lineman come in out of the fourth round of a draft and completely dominate. Yet, that is exactly what the rookie for the Cleveland Browns, Dawand Jones, has been able to do.

We have seen multiple elite performances out of Jones, locking down some of the best pass rushers in the entire league such as Nick Bosa and T.J. Watt. In his first 11 games of his career, Jones has given up just three quarterback hits and three sacks on the season for a variety of different signal callers. He is also part of one of the most stable running attacks in the league, one which he is a clear anchor for on the right side of that Cleveland attack.

It’s hard to be successful in the league as a rookie, especially one drafted in the later rounds. It’s even tougher when you are thrown the adversity of blocking for multiple different quarterbacks and losing your top running back. Dawand Jones is proving that he clearly should not have fallen all the way into the fourth round, and is solidifying himself not only as the best rookie offensive lineman from this class, but one of the best tackles in the league.

6 Browns who are being snubbed from deserving Pro Bowl opportunities

The Browns have some hilarious omissions in the current Pro Bowl votes…

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero released the current standings in terms of Pro Bowl voting as we have just five weeks to go in the season. And to the dismay of the Cleveland Browns, there are numerous snubs left off of the list. Players like cornerback Denzel Ward and offensive tackle Dawand Jones have been cornerstones of Cleveland’s success this season as they sit at 7-5 on the year.

And yet neither are currently in the top-10 in voting at their respective positions.

The Pro Bowl has been known to be a popularity contest as memorable names tend to get the benefit of the doubt over more deserving breakout candidates. However, Ward has been there and done that before, and yet he is still left off the list at this point.

Ward and Jones are not the only ones, however. Here are six total Browns who deserve more love amongst the rest of the nation and their peers.