With The First Pick
Fansided

Daily Draft Digest: Cardinals could not believe Josh Jones fell to them

By Cory Kinnan

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 19: Josh Jones #74 of the Houston Cougars in action during a game against the Tulane Green Wave at Yulman Stadium on September 19, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 19: Josh Jones #74 of the Houston Cougars in action during a game against the Tulane Green Wave at Yulman Stadium on September 19, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 25: Offensive Lineman Josh Jones #70 from Houston of the North Team during the 2020 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Mobile, Alabama. The North Team defeated the South Team 34 to 17. He fell to the Cardinals in the 3rd round of the draft. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 25: Offensive Lineman Josh Jones #70 from Houston of the North Team during the 2020 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Mobile, Alabama. The North Team defeated the South Team 34 to 17. He fell to the Cardinals in the 3rd round of the draft. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

As he continued to slip down the draft board, the Arizona Cardinals could also not believe their eyes as they landed Josh Jones in the third round

Every year, there are surprises as players are selected earlier than anticipated, and those who fall further than anyone expects. The 2020 NFL Draft was no different, as Houston offensive tackle Josh Jones fell right into the laps of the Arizona Cardinals in the third round.

As offensive tackles flew off the board in the first round, six in fact, Jones was expected to be among them on Thursday night. After he ranked as the fourth best offensive tackle according to Pro Football Focus, he saw the likes of even Austin Jackson and Ezra Cleveland taken before him.

Gathering steam at the Reese’s Senior Bowl and at the NFL Scouting Combine, Jones became a hot commodity, or so we thought. Instead, after landing Isaiah Simmons in the first round, and DeAndre Hopkins with their second rounder, they still were able to land the former Houston offensive tackle with their third rounder, a surprise that came even to head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

More from With the First Pick

Appearing on Arizona Sport’s 98.7, Kingsbury recounts the events that transpired on day one and two of the 2020 NFL Draft, saying:

"“We’re calling saying, ‘What’s going on? Did he kill somebody last night? Is there something we don’t know about? What’s the issue?’…We were just thrilled (to land Jones).”"

After re-signing both D.J. Humphries and Marcus Gilbert this offseason to presumably start at their tackle spots, Jones could compete for the veteran Gilbert’s spot after he missed all of 2019. Given his age as a redshirt senior, Jones will need to get on the field sooner rather than later so the Cardinals can take advantage of his best years of football.

Next. 2021 NFL Draft way too early first round mock draft. dark

Not only did last year’s Rookie of the Year land help in the form of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, but he also landed an anchor on his offensive line into the future in Jones. He has motivation after his draft day slip, and the Cardinals could not be more thankful.

Home/Arizona Cardinals