NFL Draft 2020: Has Houston’s Josh Jones solidified self as first-rounder?

Houston offensive tackle Josh Jones has been rising up draft boards, but has he done enough to solidify himself as a first-round pick?

The top four offensive tackles in the draft this year are pretty settled. Everyone expects Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills, Andrew Thomas and Mekhi Becton to be the first four offensive tackles to be selected and more than likely go in the top 15 picks.

The rest of the offensive tackle class is very much up in the air and there are several tackles that have a chance to be in that next group and be mid-to-late first-round picks.

Houston offensive tackle Josh Jones is the favorite to be the leader of that group and it is easy to see why. He is a physical specimen standing 6-foot-5 and 319 pounds and has nearly 34-inch arms. He also comes into the league with a ton of experience having started for the last four seasons for the Cougars.

Jones got to Houston as a three-star offensive tackle from Richmond, Texas. He redshirted his freshman year but then proceeded to start all 13 games at left tackle in his redshirt freshman season.

Houston was enjoying a period of great success under then head coach Tom Herman and one of the reasons why was that the Cougars were convincing some of the homegrown talent, like Jones, to stay at home instead of going to schools like Oklahoma and Texas.

Jones continued to be a solid starter at left tackle despite the head coaching change to Major Applewhite. He went through another coaching change when Applewhite was fired and replaced by West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen. Jones stayed consistent and became a second-team all-conference left tackle despite all of the coaching changes.

Strengths

Jones has the measurables that you want in an NFL tackle. Good arm length and footwork in pass protection and that is the best and most NFL ready part of his game. Has four years of starting experience and has been very solid in every season he has started.

Weaknesses

Jones does not play with the best leverage in the run game and is not a very powerful run blocker. He has had knee injury history in the past, missing games last season due to the injury. A bit raw in a lot of facets of his game and might be best suited to be a right tackle in the league. A raw tackle that is a bit of a boom or bust guy.

Draft Projection

While I do think he is raw and needs developing, there is no denying Jones talent and measurables that he has. I believe that will propel Jones into the first round. The Dolphins, Titans, Seahawks and Packers are teams to watch for Jones to land.

Projection: Mid-to-late first-round pick