The New Orleans Saints were busy at the Texas Longhorns pro day this week. In addition to keeping close eyes on nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat and meeting with linebacker Jaylan Ford and other prospects, the Saints were able to put right tackle Christian Jones through position drills as prospects worked out ahead of the 2024 NFL draft. Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline reports it was a Saints coach leading Jones through drills.
Pauline doesn’t specify whether it was offensive line coach John Benton, senior assistant Rick Dennison, or assistant line coach Jahri Evans putting Jones through his paces, but either way the Saints got some good information.
Jones nails the athletic archetype the team has shown they value at 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, and he moves really well for someone his size when blocking out in space or crossing the formation behind the line of scrimmage. He also had a productive week of practices at the Senior Bowl against other draft prospects and has checked almost every box through the pre-draft process.
The 23-year-old started 48 of his 61 games with Texas, lining up almost entirely on the right side (though he did start at left tackle for much of the 2021 season). Last year, he allowed just one sack on 511 snaps in pass protection, per Pro Football Focus charting.
Right now, he’s projected to be a third-round pick, though Jones could climb higher and possibly be an option for New Orleans in the second round at No. 45 overall (with the pick coming back to them from the Denver Broncos). The Saints need a long-term solution at right tackle after they asked Ryan Ramczyk to take a steep pay cut while managing his degenerative knee condition. Jones just might be the right player to take that mantle.
