Texas offensive tackle Christian Jones turned heads in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. After over 40 starts with the Longhorns, Jones is now taking his talents to the NFL.
What does Jones’ NFL Draft outlook look like? Can he make an impact for an NFL franchise?
Christian Jones Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’5″
- Weight: 318 pounds
- Position: OT
- School: Texas
- Current Year: Redshirt Senior
- Hand: 10 3/8″
- Arm: 34 7/8″
- Wingspan: 83 7/8″
A former three-star recruit in Texas, Jones was considered one of the top prospects coming out of the Houston area in the 2018 recruiting class. Jones committed to the Longhorns after settling down at offensive tackle his senior season.
Jones didn’t see much playing time in his first two seasons with Texas after redshirting and spending time on the field-goal units, but he broke through in 2020, bouncing between left and right tackle. He played left tackle in 2021, starting every game on the left side, but he moved back to RT in 2022.
"The kid from Texas, Christian Jones out here beating the hell out of everybody (at the Sr Bowl) why aren't we talking about him?" @VochLombardi #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/cR4rsV2R64
— Skywalker Steele (@SkywalkerSteele) April 17, 2024
After spending both 2022 and 2023 at right tackle, Jones earned back-to-back All-Big 12 honorable mentions.
Jones’ Scouting Report
Games Watched: Alabama (2023), Oklahoma (2023), BYU (2023), Kansas (2023), Houston (2023), Oklahoma State (2023), Washington (2023)
Strengths
- Vines for arms and uses his length well when establishing contact
- Thick, well-built frame
- Powerful, jarring punches
- Very good play strength to anchor against bull rushes
- Escorts defenders out of gaps with ease
- Experience shows an inability to recognize blitzes and stunts
- Positional versatility with double-digit starts at both tackle spots
- Good use of hands-on initial strikes
Weaknesses
- Poor athlete working in space
- Limited athleticism makes redirection a challenge, leaving him open to speed rushers
- Compensates for limited athleticism against speed rushers with oversets
- Susceptible to inside counters
- Will latch onto what he can’t block
- Can miss targets in space when climbing on blocks
Current Draft Projection and Summary
You can see Jones’ obvious tools with his size, length, and devastating power, but it’s tough to get past his athletic limitations. Jones will obviously face significantly better pass rushers in the NFL than he did in college, and I worry how he will handle it.
Explosive pass rushers can get around Jones with speed and cause him to overset, leaving him wide open to an inside counter, something NFL veterans will take note of.
It might be better for Jones to make a move inside to guard, where his footwork and redirection can be mitigated some. His power and anchor would help lock down powerful rushers on the inside, and his work in the run game can help pave the way in any scheme.
MORE: Top Offensive Tackles in the 2024 NFL Draft
Jones’ length would be a boon inside as well, and he has the awareness to handle blitzes and stunts.
Entering the Senior Bowl, Jones had Day 3 grades, and while he had a good showing in Mobile, it continues to feel as though he solidified his status as a Day 3 pick more than increasing his stock to anything higher.
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