Dawand Jones has two goals this year -- establish himself as a starting left tackle and playing 17 games without injury. (TheLandOnDemand)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst on the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
The biggest man on the Browns has a bigger responsibility this year.
The Dawand Jones right tackle-to-left tackle experiment is in full swing. Early returns in the voluntary portion of the offseason program have been good.
As the Browns head into their three-day mandatory minicamp starting on Tuesday, the feeling is that Jones might be … could be … the long-term answer at left tackle. At the very least, he’s being asked to be the short-term answer in 2025.
After rehabbing a fractured fibula suffered in November, Jones has his weight under control and is studying left tackles as big as himself. There aren’t many.
Trimmer and more nimble
Jones said he shed 20 pounds of body fat from last year. Spared from the “tough love” coaching of Bill Callahan in 2024, Jones approached, if not exceeded, the 400-pound barrier early last season. He politely declined to confirm that, or his current weight.
Jones certainly looked trimmer and more nimble in the two OTA practices open to the media. The Browns’ official roster lists Jones at 6-8 and 374 pounds.
“I attacked my diet this past offseason with [nutritionist Kelsey Fahy],” Jones said. “We were here every day. Honestly, I just lost a lot of body fat, and that helped out a lot. Do I feel better? Yes. I definitely feel lighter.”
The weight loss still leaves Jones in exclusive company. The five left tackles voted to the Pro Bowl last season averaged 6-5 and 318 pounds – some 50+ pounds lighter than Jones.
Jones was primarily a right tackle at Ohio State; he made one start at left tackle. As a rookie in 2023, he made eight starts at right tackle. Last year, when Jedrick Wills lost his battle with a knee injury and Jack Conklin returned at right tackle, the Browns shifted Jones to left tackle. He made three starts before suffering a broken fibula when guard Wyatt Teller accidentally fell on his left leg.
Browns GM Andrew Berry was intrigued enough by what he saw to greenlight a full-time switch to left tackle this year.
"My main thing is just to take the challenge on," Jones said. "I kept it as real as possible with AB. I personally don't like playing left tackle like that, but I don't care. I'm athletic. It comes with the nature of the game and I think if [Tampa Bay All-Pro left tackle Tristan] Wirfs can do it, and he went from right to left, he struggled too and if he can do it, I know I can because he's athletic enough, he's big enough just like me."
Jones said he has taken to studying big men like himself playing left tackle.
The list is short.
It includes former Patriot-turned-Texan Trent Brown (6-8 and 380 pounds), Orlando Brown (6-8, 350) of the Bengals, and Eagles All-Pro Jordan Mailata (6-8, 365). Wirfs is much lighter, 6-5 and 320.
“It’s just different [playing left tackle] because of the angles,” Jones said. “I’m still trying to figure out the angles. [Right tackle] just comes to you more naturally being right-handed. I’m already trying to do everything with my left side.”
Jones said he studies how the big men move in space.
“I think I struggle at that sometimes,” he said. “As a big guy. Trent Brown, Trent Williams, Tristen, they all move well in space. In the pass game, their feet are always in sync with each other. I’ve seen Trent [Brown] get beat, but it’s very rare. It’s very good watching them on film.”
A lot riding on it
Left guard Joel Bitonio has noticed Jones’ effort and is impressed.
“Yeah, I think he's lost some weight, he's pretty much been here all offseason, rehabbing, and I think he's focused,” Bitonio said. “And I think he knows, like, all right, you're going to play left tackle this year, so you can just work at it, focus at it. But he's ready to take a step, and I know he's getting close to those contract years and stuff, and I think he wants to put a healthy season together, and if he stays healthy and can pass pro and do the things that he can do, like, it'll be good for him.”
One thing in favor of the transition is that Jones seems to have a healthy relationship with new offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren – his third position coach in his three seasons with the Browns. Bloomgren has a touch of Callahan in his methods, but is less harsh in his demands of Jones.
“He definitely tries to get under your skin a little bit,” Jones said. “You know, we get along well, though. We went out to dinner before. We talked. You know, he's trying to understand me as a player.
“I just tell him to keep it real how you want to be as coaches. Everybody finds their own lane. Callahan coached me different than he coached Wyatt. Everyone knows that. That’s just how coaches are.”
There’s a lot riding on Jones’ transition to left tackle. As Bitonio pointed out, Jones will be eligible for a second contract after this season. If he can establish himself as a legit starting left tackle, it could mean more money down the line, though the disparity between left tackle v. right tackle pay has closed considerably in recent years. The top five left tackles average $24.9 million per year v. $23.4 million among the top five right tackles.
More at stake are future decisions by Berry.
After agreeing to a contract re-do this season, Conklin is eligible to be a free agent in 2026. With a possible first-round quarterback at the top of the agenda next season, Berry has to be mindful of providing a stable situation at left tackle. If Jones doesn’t fill the bill and returns to right tackle in 2026, left tackle becomes a very high priority.