PSO Scouting Report: OT Josh Jones (Houston)

PSO’s original Scouting Reports strive to be uniquely valuable in evaluating a player’s future outlook by focusing on the four main subjects that summarize a player’s likelihood of succeeding at the next level including: natural Physical Tools, College Game Film, proven Production, and overall Risk that each individual player presents to a team drafting him. For a full breakdown of PSO’s Scouting Reports, click here.

Bio

Pos: OT

Hometown: Richmond, TX

School: Houston

Class: Redshirt Senior

Age: 22

Height: 6’5″ | Weight: 319 lbs

Hands: 10.13” | Arms: 33.88”

Bench: 25 reps | 40-YD: 5.27s

Facts to Know

2nd-Team All-AAC in 2019
93.2 overall PFF grade — 2nd highest among all OTs (2019), highest ever for a non-Power 5 OT
Allowed just 18 total pressures over last 3 years (1,282 PBK snaps, 1.4% rate)
Massive improvements in 2019 — Overall grade increased from 71.9 to 93.2, RBK grade from 62.8 to 92.7

Physical Tools

Lot of buzz about Houston LT Josh Jones down at the Senior Bowl.
Went back to watch his tape against Oklahoma in the ‘19 season opener.
Grinch played a lot of contain on the edge with his ends, but Jones got seven 1-on-1 pass rush situations.
Success rate? 100 percent: pic.twitter.com/ULgmG2n9N6
— Kegan Reneau (@KeganReneau) January 23, 2020

Pros

NFL OT size/length/strength (6’5”, 319 lbs, 33.88” arms, 25 reps)
Well-built frame, no bad weight
Great power and mobility
Very good athlete with a basketball background
Overpowering force in the AAC

Cons

Only a 44.7% SPARQ score
Has room on his frame to fill out a bit further

Grade: A-

Game Film

Pros

Very comfortable moving in space
Active, strong hands — always looking to engage defenders
Good reflexes to vary punches and timing to keep rushers on their toes
Effective in utilizing his length and mobility
Still a dominant force despite technical shortcomings; coaching will help tremendously

Cons

Very raw in passing snaps, footwork needs improvement
Inconsistent hand timing/placement
Overeager at times and over sets/pursues

Grade: B+

Production

Pros

2nd-Team All-AAC (2019)
Vast improvement senior year (71.9 overall grade to 93.2)
Run blocking improvements — 62.8 (2018) to 92.7 (2019)
Well-rounded (89+ PFF grade in Run Block, Pass Block, Zone, and Gap)
Allowed only 4 total pressures in 2019 (14 total last 2 seasons)
81.9 grade in true pass sets
Highest overall PFF grade ever earned by a non-Power 5 OT (93.2)

Cons

Faced lesser competition in the AAC
2019 was his only elite season

Grade: A-

Risk

Pros

Great frame with room to grow, high ceiling
Ideal combination of size/length/strength/athleticism
4-year starter that improved significantly every single year
A dominant force despite raw technique
Went through four OL coaches in college, needs some stability
Fantastic Senior Bowl performance, did not back down to stronger competition

Cons

Many technical improvements, especially in pass sets
Will need to adjust to NFL offensive schemes
Even larger step-up in competition (relative to AAC-Senior Bowl)

Grade: B+

Overall

A former high school basketball star, Josh Jones is an experienced, athletic OT prospect with a very high ceiling. The combination of size, length, strength, and athleticism he brings to the table is enticing on its own, but Jones also earned the 2nd-highest PFF grade among all OT’s in 2019, matching potential with production and improved every year of his 4-year career.

Finishing his collegiate career with an outstanding PFF grading profile, the question is obviously about competition, coming from the AAC. While his Senior Bowl performance quelled some of those concerns, the NFL is still an entirely different level in terms of physicality. It may take him a year or two to fully adjust, but Josh Jones clearly possesses the raw talent to become a franchise Offensive Tackle.

Pro Comp: OT Ja’wuan James (Denver Broncos)

Projected Round: Mid-late 1st round

Prime Destinations: NYJ, TB, MIA, MIN, SEA

OVERALL Grade: B+