Welcome to the 31st daily installment of the NFL Draft 1-through-32 series on DK Pittsburgh Sports, intended to introduce you, a prospect at a time, to the top 32 players in the class on a consensus basis, leading right up to the main event.
That, of course, will begin Thursday in Kansas City, Mo., though all 32 teams, including the Steelers on the South Side, will operate from their local headquarters.
NO. 31: DAWAND JONES
Ohio State offensive tackle
Jones is the No. 31-rated player on Pro Football Focus' big board. Not only does he have the size to be an NFL offensive tackle, Jones also has the footwork and the mobility desired to play either side at the next level.
COLLEGE BACKGROUND
Jones played his 28 career games in equal parts on the left and right side as a tackle, but he was selected as a second-team All-Big Ten after allowing just five pressures on 419 pass-blocking snaps last season on the right side.
Between 2019 and 2020, Jones saw 170 snaps at left tackle and allowed one quarterback hurry, no QB hits, and one sack before moving to the right side in 2021 to favor Paris Johnson Jr.
The 21-year-old Indianapolis native was a consensus three-star recruit out of high school and chose Ohio State among 21 offers, including from Penn State. He visited Ohio State, Penn State, and USC during his recruitment process.
NFL COMBINE, PRO DAY
Jones measured at 6-foot-8, 374 pounds with a 36 3/8-inch arm length and an 11 5/8-inch hand width at the NFL Combine. For context on his arms, they are four inches longer than Peter Skoronski's, nearly two inches longer than Broderick Jones', and more than two inches longer than Anton Harrison's.
Jones earned an NFL Next Gen Stats grade of 75, ninth among tackles. He ran a 5.35 40-yard dash to finish 0.38 seconds off the pace among offensive linemen.
He did not participate in the Ohio State pro day, though he stood out at the Senior Bowl:
MOCK DRAFT
The USA Today mock draft consensus tracker has Jones going to Philadelphia at pick No. 30, with an average draft slotting at 28.167. Our Chris Halicke's latest mock draft has Jones as an option for the Steelers at No. 32, while my own mock draft has Jones as the pick for the Steelers at No. 32.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE STEELERS' STANDPOINT
Jones should be in play for the Steelers at pick No. 32, provided a tackle at No. 17 is not the pick. As far as the big board is concerned, Jones checks in (on PFF, at least) sixth among tackles, though the Steelers would have to vet a move back to the left side for either of Jones or Chukwuma Okorafor, if he is in play.
COREY'S TAKE
I mocked Jones to the Steelers at No. 32 because of the idea that he could transition back over to the left side and be a long-term blocker for Kenny Pickett's blind side. I would trust Jones more as a left tackle over Darnell Wright, who was a true right tackle at Tennessee, given his prior experience at the position, if they are taking one which has to move back over.
THE REST
1. Alabama QB Bryce Young
2. Georgia DT Jalen Carter
3. Alabama DE Will Anderson Jr.
4. Kentucky QB Will Levis
5. Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
6. Florida QB Anthony Richardson
7. Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon
8. Texas Tech DE Tyree Wilson
9. TCU WR Quentin Johnston
10. Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez
11. Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski
12. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
13. Pitt DT Calijah Kancey
14. Iowa DE Lukas Van Ness
15. Utah TE Dalton Kincaid
16. Maryland CB Deonte Banks
17. Alabama S Brian Branch
18. Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr.
19. Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr.
20. Tennessee OT Darnell Wright
21. Clemson DT Bryan Bresee
22. Georgia DE Nolan Smith
23. Clemson DE Myles Murphy
24. Oklahoma OT Anton Harrison
25. Iowa State DE Will McDonald IV
26. Georgia OT Broderick Jones
27. Texas RB Bijan Robinson
28. Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer
29. Boston College WR Zay Flowers
30. USC/Pitt WR Jordan Addison
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