The athletic tackle improved tremendously under Kyle Flood after beginning his football career as a junior in high school.
Texas Longhorns offensive tackle Christian Jones started Day Three of the 2024 NFL Draft as the top player available at his position, according to ESPN, but had to wait until the No. 162 pick until he was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round.
En route to the desert ️ pic.twitter.com/lOWsMN1v1O
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 27, 2024
The seventh Longhorn picked in this year’s draft, matching the most for the program since 2007, Jones is the third offensive tackle from Texas taken in the last six years following a stretch of nine years without an offensive lineman selected at all.
“Arizona got a great player and person, and a guy with a very bright future in the NFL. Christian is a guy who I watched develop as much as anybody in his three years with us. He’s a three-year starter who began playing left tackle before moving to the right side where he really blossomed in year two and three. He’s a guy Coach Flood poured a lot into, and we really saw his development grow exponentially in his time here. He and the team reaped the benefits of that. Christian was a guy we could really trust, he was great in the locker room, did things the right way and because of that, we saw his game evolve. His fundamentals improved, his understanding of the scheme really grew, he became a very good pass protector for us, but also showed versatility in the run game. I do think he has position flexibility at the next level as a guy who can definitely play either tackle spot, and I would say could even play guard if needed because he’s got the measurables that are unique to that position,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said in a statement released by the school.
“Because of the fact that he hasn’t play a ton of football relative to most guys, I think his best days are ahead of him. His development is not complete, he can continue to grow as a player and inevitably be a really productive player at the professional level. The Cardinals are lucky to have him, as a player, teammate and awesome representative of their franchise in every way.”
Jones shared his excitement about heading to an organization led by first-year head coach Jonathan Gannon, the former defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I’m so happy I get to be in Arizona. It’s a great environment, the coaching staff is very young and has new, fresh energy, and I’m just excited to be able to get to go out there and showcase my talent. All I needed was an opportunity every single step of the way, and now I’ve got it. It’s always good to go someplace that you’re wanted, and they see talent in me, and I’m so ready to work,” Jones said, according to the school.
After playing soccer growing up, Jones picked up football as a junior in high school, lengthening his development trajectory when he was a late addition to the 2018 recruiting class. Under Texas offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Kyle Flood, Jones improved dramatically over the last two seasons to earn his way into the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
“I feel extremely prepared. I don’t think any program in the country works as hard as we do — winter, spring, summer — just to get ready for the season,” Jones said. “The way Coach Sark has everything set up is very pro style. We’re running plays you’re going to run at the next level, seeing blitzes you’re going to see at the next level, and blocking NFL caliber people in our own locker room. Iron sharpens iron, and I was able to get better going against the likes of Murph (Byron Murphy), (T’Vondre) Sweat, all the edge guys — Barryn (Sorrell), (Ethan) Burke, all those guys. It was definitely a whole group effort, and the support and love is there, and I’m so grateful for that.”