Emery Jones Jr. Doesn’t Have First Round Feet

Studying every snap last season of LSU offensive right tackle Emery Jones Jr. put things into perspective.

Jones has an aggressive attitude on game film.

He’s better at run blocking than he is at pass protection. I’m not the only one saying this either. Pro Football Focus gave him a 71.7 pass-blocking grade and a 73.7 run-blocking grade.

With that said, I love aggressive run blockers.

However, playing offensive tackle in the NFL is all about pass protection. It’s a league where all 32/32 teams passed more than they ran in 2023 (teamrankings.com).

Consistently protecting the quarterback on the perimeter of the pocket during pass plays is a must.

Jones has heavy legs

Jones is a tougher evaluation because the key to pass protection for offensive tackles is lateral foot speed.

He does flash a fast first step and the ability to slide out in pass protection at times quickly, but by the time Jones reaches what I call the ‘back door of the pocket,’ (back edge of the pocket) his legs tend to get tired and he resorts to his physical strength to try to halt pass rushers.

He stops moving his feet.

This causes him to begin to lose blocking leverage (control) of the block and he ‘opens the door,’ into the pocket leaving his quarterback vulnerable. He is especially susceptible to speed pass rushers.

While he only gave up two sacks last season, he gave up more pressure, and that disrupts the offensive play flow to some degree. This LSU offensive tackle gave up 15 pressures at the college level.

Run Blocking

His heavier-looking legs also showed up on the game film regarding run blocking.

Jones was dominant in limited space when he had blocking leverage. That’s when his high level of aggression came out. He was especially effective by the goal line.

He looked good pulling down the line of scrimmage too ⎯and it was devastating when he connected with whoever was waiting there in the hole.

However, it was hit-and-miss at the second level (where the linebackers lineup pre-snap) and further downfield. He gave it everything he had to give, it’s not a question of effort, it’s just he has average football playing speed.

Off-balance

This is another important trait for offensive tackles to have and Jones tends to get off balance in pass protection and run blocking.

Why?

He resorts to relying on his most dominant trait, which is his raw brute strength.

This causes him to waist bend (lunge) and get off balance in pass protection. He also ends up on the ground a lot as a run blocker.

NFL crystal ball for Jones

So where does all this leave Jones when it comes to draft value?

I feel he is more of a developmental type of prospect than a plug-and-play franchise-level right tackle.

Too many inconsistencies show up on tape.

That hasn’t stopped mainstream draft outlets such as The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, CBS, The Draft Network, 33rd Team, Draftwire, Bleacher Report, NBC Sports, and Draft Kings from putting a first-round grade on this LSU big man.

#50 Emery Jones Jr. 6-foot-6, 315 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 Fall Grade: Third-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 65.3% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of September 29, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2023 game film evaluated: FSU, Grambling, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Missouri, Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Georgia State, Texas A&M, and Wisconsin

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Big stature and big presence prospect. Aggressive alpha. Emotional. Tries to intimidate. Active. Competitive street fighter in pass protection. Solid anchor versus bull rushes. High football IQ. Handles “X” stunts, blitzes, and spin moves. Not always pretty, but tends to get the job done. Average blocking technique in pass protection and run blocking. Gets out of control too much. Saw some action at LT vs. Mississippi State. Inconsistent sustain on running plays. Thrives on physicality. Can over-aggress.

What to watch for during the 2024 college football season

1. What does his footwork look like in pass protection?

2. How many sacks and pressures are allowed?

3. Sustaining run blocks consistently?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.