A member of the Cleveland Browns’ 2023 rookie classes landed on the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team – right tackle Dawand Jones.
The fourth-round rookie started nine games this season after he took over for Jack Conklin in Week 2 and put together a fantastic first season in the NFL. Jones allowed just three sacks, three quarterback hits and 15 hurries in 712 offensive snaps this season, per Pro Football Focus. He was also penalized just twice.
Jones’ rookie year was derailed by injuries, though. He missed Week 10 with shoulder and knee injuries and then missed the final six games of the year (five during the regular season and one in the postseason) with a nagging knee injury.
While Jones played well as a fill-in starter, he may not have a starting role in 2024 unless the Browns decide to move on from Conklin, who signed a contract extension in 2022. Jones would be arguably the best backup tackle in the NFL, though, and would surely be able to fill in easily if either Conklin or Jedrick Wills Jr. were to miss time again.
