CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns are taking a calculated risk at one of football’s most important positions, placing their faith in young offensive tackle Dawand Jones as their left tackle of the future. On the latest Orange and Brown Talk podcast, Mary Kay Cabot, Dan Labbe, and Ashley Bastock broke down why this decision represents both opportunity and concern.
Jones, who showed flashes of potential last season before suffering a broken fibula, has impressed the coaching staff during the offseason program. According to Cabot, his physical condition has been a priority: “I think Dawand, he’s healthy, he looks good, his weight is good and that was important. I think a lot of people were curious if he was going to kind of blow up a little bit and he vowed that he wasn’t going to do that.”
The Browns are encouraged by Jones’ brief but impressive audition last season. “He had a three game tryout at the position last year. He aced it. He did really well,” Cabot explained. “He filled in at Ohio State at left tackle here and there and played well when he did.”
This opportunity for Jones exemplifies Cleveland‘s roster-building philosophy under Andrew Berry — identify young talent with upside and give them the chance to prove they can be long-term solutions before investing significant resources elsewhere.
“This is one of those spots where it’s very much like, hey, there isn’t a clear long-term solution here. You hope a guy like Dawand Jones could be that long term solution,” Labbe noted. “So why not find out? Let’s use this season to see if the Browns found their next left tackle for the next five to 10 years in this fourth-round pick.”
The Browns haven’t left themselves completely exposed, maintaining depth with veteran swing tackle Cornelius Lucas, who Cabot pointed out “has started 54 games ... That’s a lot of football.”
Yet, concerns remain about whether the Browns have done enough to address a position that protects their quarterback’s blind side. The team has experienced significant injury issues at tackle over the past two seasons, and Ashley Bastock questioned if they’ve truly improved their situation.
“Part of me still does ... it just kind of feels like they’re in the same exact spot,” Bastock said. “Cornelius Lucas wasn’t here last year, but OK, he essentially fills that swing tackle role which you’ve always had.”
The biggest question surrounding Jones isn’t his talent but his durability. “I do think still health-wise for him is the biggest question and the best way to answer that is letting him start if you think he’s capable of doing that, which by all accounts everyone seems to think he is, and see what you got,” Bastock explained.
This approach at left tackle reflects the Browns’ broader roster strategy for 2025 — they simply couldn’t address every need through free agency and the draft with limited cap space and draft capital. As Labbe observed, “I just feel like it’s a case where they just weren’t going to be able to address everything this offseason.”
Instead, they’re betting on internal development at certain positions while focusing their resources elsewhere. The left tackle position represents a perfect test case for this philosophy — if Jones develops into a reliable starter, they’ve found a long-term solution at a premium position without expending significant draft capital or cap space.
For a team that needs to maximize value across their roster, Jones represents both opportunity and uncertainty. His development could be one of the most important storylines to follow throughout the 2025 season.
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Want to hear more about the Browns’ offensive line plans and whether Dawand Jones can be their left tackle of the future? Listen to the full Orange and Brown Talk podcast for in-depth analysis of Cleveland‘s roster-building approach and key position battles heading into the 2025 season.
