***TRADE ROUND 1: Houston OT Josh Jones
6-5, 311 – Senior – 5.27

PREVIOUS PICK: LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire

It’s no secret that the Bucs need to draft an offensive lineman capable of playing right tackle. Jones has played left tackle for the past four years as a starter at Houston and has shown the improvement and necessary traits to make the transition to replace Demar Dotson on the right side of the line.

After drafting Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor with the 14th overall the first round, Bucs general manager Jason Licht trades the team’s second-round pick (45th overall) and tight end O.J. Howard, a former first-rounder, to New England for the 23rd overall pick where Licht and head coach Bruce Arians select Jones.

In PewterReport.com’s previous mock draft, Jones was our second-round selection, and was moved up to the first round in last month’s mock draft in February after he performed well at the Senior Bowl. Even if the team re-signs 34-year old Demar Dotson for one year to compete for the job the Bucs will need an heir apparent.

That could be Jones, who has great size at 6-foot-5, 311 pounds and athleticism. Jones was a four-year starter at Houston at left tackle and has the ideal footwork and wingspan to move to the right side and be successful there.

After missing out on the top four offensive tackles – Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Louisville’s Mekhi Becton, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas – the Bucs feel the need to move up into the first round to grab one of the few elite tackle prospects left.

Jones was dominant at the Senior Bowl and was the highest-graded offensive tackle during the week of practice, winning the award for the top North squad offensive lineman for the practice week. High grades are nothing new for Jones, who was given a 93.2 grade by Pro Football Focus, which was the second-best grade for any offensive tackle in 2019, and the best grade ever given to a tackle outside the Power Five conferences.

Jones allowed just 18 pressures in 1,282 pass-blocking reps in his time at Houston where he was a four-year starter. Jones is regarded as a better pass protector than run blocker at this stage of his development, but made great strides in the running game during his senior year.

Jones’ quick feet and athleticism stems from playing basketball while growing up, and that not only benefits him in his kick slide, but also gives him the ability to pull on run blocking assignments. Jones said he was open to moving to right tackle if necessary at the NFL level, but at the same time, he could be an option at left tackle if Tampa Bay deems him to be better than Donovan Smith and wishes to move Smith to the right side of the line.

Watch Jones, who wears No. 74, in this highlight video.

Here is a montage of some of Jones’ highlight clips throughout his senior season.

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