The Browns’ offensive line is being rebuilt almost from the ground up, and that overhaul could leave Dawand Jones looking for a new address before Week 1.
Jones has flashed real upside as a swing tackle, but the problem has never been talent. It’s been availability.
With three season-ending injuries in three NFL seasons, Cleveland may decide it can’t keep waiting for him to stay on the field. Rookie Austin Barber is already pushing hard for the swing tackle job, which makes Jones one of the more interesting names on the roster bubble.
That doesn’t mean the Browns have to simply cut bait. Jones is still on a team-friendly deal, and there should be interest from teams that need tackle help and are willing to bet on his ceiling. If Barber keeps making noise and claims the backup role, Cleveland could be in a spot where moving Jones makes more sense than trying to squeeze him onto the 53-man roster.
Three teams stand out as possible landing spots.
The Detroit Lions make sense because their tackle situation still has a hole on the right side. Taylor Decker and the Lions couldn’t get on the same page about a new deal, which led to his release.
Detroit then drafted Blake Miller, but he may need a year or two before he’s ready to take over full-time. The Lions also shifted Penei Sewell from right tackle to left tackle, giving Jared Goff strong blindside protection but leaving the other edge unsettled.
Jones would be an upgrade over projected starter Larry Borom, and his one-year contract fits the idea of a bridge option until Miller is ready.
Kansas City is another team that could use him. The Chiefs moved on from one of their starting tackles this offseason and didn’t really replace him.
Jawaan Taylor is gone, and Jaylon Moore doesn’t look like a starting-caliber answer. With Patrick Mahomes coming off the first major injury of his career, Kansas City should be focused on keeping him upright.
Josh Simmons flashed as a rookie left tackle, but the other side remains a question. At $1.5 million a year, per Spotrac, Jones would be a cheap swing with real upside.
Then there’s Green Bay, where the Packers are finally giving former first-round pick Jordan Morgan a shot at his natural position. He struggled on the interior, but left tackle was supposed to be his lane.
Even so, there’s no guarantee the move fixes everything right away. Zach Tom also missed time last season because of injury, so Jones would give Green Bay some needed insurance.
The Packers’ line was shaky last year, and they didn’t do much in the offseason to clean it up.
For Cleveland, the decision comes down to timing. Jones has enough value that the Browns should at least test the market.
If Barber wins the swing tackle job, Jones could end up squeezed out. In that case, the Browns might as well try to get something back before he walks away for nothing.
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