Bengals schedule important meeting with top OL prospect
One of the biggest names in the NFL Draft is garnering interest from the Bengals.
There's big, and then there's Dawand Jones big.
At 6'8" and 374 pounds, Jones is an absolute mammoth of an offensive tackle. That size makes him equally dominant and unique.
The Cincinnati Bengals see that, and want to learn a little more about him.
Per The Draft Network's Ryan Fowler, Jones has a top 30 visit scheduled with the Bengals.
The fit here is obvious. Cincinnati needs at least one offensive tackle of the future, as well as a potential starter in 2023 while La'el Collins' recovery from ACL surgery has him in limbo. The former Ohio State Buckeye could immediately start at right tackle for the Bengals.
Jones, or as some call him, Big Thanos, played right tackle most recently for the Scarlet and Gray, but has also taken reps at left tackle as well.
It's more than just height and weight when it comes to the 21-year old. Jones has some of the biggest hands (11.625) out of any o-linemen in recent memory, and his wingspan of nearly 90" is just as insane.
Jones' inordinate size and length make it extremely difficult for edge rushers to get around him. Pro Football Focus charged him with just two pressures allowed in over 150 true pass sets during the 2022 season. At the Senior Bowl, he showed off his pass-blocking prowess in practice drills consistently.
Should the Bengals target Jones in April's NFL Draft, they would likely need to use their 28th overall pick in the first round. Athletes who are built like Jones and are competent on the field don't last very long on the board. The Athletic's Dane Brugler slotted him at 31st overall to the Kansas City Chiefs in his most recent mock draft.
Jones is among a handful of offensive tackle prospects that have been linked to the Bengals recently. Brugler had Cincinnati going with Oklahoma's Anton Harrison in his mock, and Darnell Wright out of Tennessee also met with the team at last week's NFL Scouting Combine.
The Bengals are very much in the market for tackle play. Jones would give them a player unlike any in the NFL.
