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Dawand Jones #79 of the Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns entered the 2026 offseason with a few priorities, but there was no question what the No. 1 item on the team’s list was: overhaul and rebuild the offensive line. GM Andrew Berry began that process aggressively in March, trading for starting right tackle Tytus Howard, then signing center/guard Elgton Jenkins and guard Zion Johnson.
That momentum carried into April, when the Browns traded back and still got tackle Spencer Fano, then added Florida tackle Austin Barber in the third round and Alabama center Parker Brailsford in the fifth round.
The Browns also signed an undrafted free agent, tackle Izavion Miller, last week.
For tackle Dawand Jones, who has shown some promise during three seasons in Cleveland–but an utter inability to remain healthy–the message appeared to be pretty clear: This is your last chance to find a role on this team.
Dawand Jones Could Play Key Reserve Role for Browns
Ideally, the Jones won’t be a starter–he can play both left tackle and right tackle, so would be best suited as a “swing” tackle, filling in for either Howard or Fano if there is an injury. There is a chance, too, that Fano will need time to adjust to the NFL, which could mean Jones actually opens Week 1 on the left side. Again, that’s not ideal.
But the Browns, recognizing that Jones is in a hit-or-miss situation in 2026, made a move on his contract this weekend–it was reduced by more than half, but given a guarantee to ensure that if he does not make the team, he won’t walk away empty-handed.
Browns Cut Pay by More Than Half
The move was reported by NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, who wrote on Twitter/X: “The Browns and OT Dawand Jones agreed to a restructured deal for 2026 worth $1.5 million, including $1.145M guaranteed. Jones, who has 20 NFL starts, had been due $3.674M after hitting an escalator. This frees up cash and cap for Cleveland while Jones gets some guaranteed money.”
Jones suffered a gruesome injury in Week 3 against the Packers last year, a torn LCL with a hamstring avulsion that knocked him out for the season, marking three straight times in his three-year career his season had been cut short by injury. Jones has also had surgeries on his MCL and a broken ankle/fibula in previous years.
Dawand Jones Dropping Weight
But Jones has worked hard to get into shape and cut his weight from the 374 pounds he was at in 2025. Last month, he talked with the Browns team website about his weight, and he has been a daily fixture at the team facility in hopes of earning his role–as a starter, as a swing tackle, whatever it may be–with this year’s team.
Coach Todd Monken has said he has taken notice of the work Jones has put in, and that he will have a chance to win the left tackle job.
Said Jones: “I’m at 360, 359, I’m in that range. I just have to keep it there. I want to finish this summer at 350, 355. We’re in that range. That’s not far off, and I just want to shoot for that range. It’s hard to maintain it. You get there and it’s like–eh. I know I’ve got a lot of expectations. I’ve just want to live up to it.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
