Christian Jones picked in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals
Texas offensive lineman Christian Jones was selected by Arizona with the 162nd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, becoming the first offensive lineman off the board for the Horns on Saturday. Jones is the seventh Longhorn to be picked, joining Byron Murphy, Xavier Worthy, T’Vondre Sweat, Adonai Mitchell, Jonathon Brooks, and Ja’Tavion Sanders.
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Jones ended his collegiate career with 61 games played, logged 48 starts, and was invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
The Cypress (Texas) Cy-Woods product, who had an argument as the Longhorns’ top offensive lineman in 2023, started and played in 13 games at right tackle for the Big 12 champions, missing only the Kansas State game due to injury.
He was also named an All-Big 12 honorable mention following the 2022 season. He helped anchor an offensive line unit that was named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the nation’s top offensive line.
Jones decided to return to Austin following his 2022 season, utilizing the year of eligibility relief provided by the NCAA as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jones joined Texas defensive linemen T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy at the 2024 Senior Bowl and as drafted members of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Texas had five players selected through the first three rounds of this year’s draft in Murphy, Xavier Worthy, Sweat, Jonathon Brooks, and Adonai Mitchell. Jones joins Ja’Tavion Sanders as a day three pick.
On3 Personal Life
Jones was a four-star recruit and a top-100 prospect in the Lone Star State coming out of Cypress (Texas) Cy Woods High School in the 2018 recruiting class. Jones didn’t play in 2018 and saw mostly action on special teams as a redshirt freshman in 2019. He emerged as a regular starter in 2020, starting at both right and left tackle during the season. Jones returned in 2021 as the Longhorns’ starter at left tackle. He anchored an offensive line that helped produce more 600 yards against Rice (620) and Texas Tech (639) and set the school single-game record of 10.4 yards per carry against Rice. Jones was an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick in 2022 after playing in and starting all 13 games at right tackle. During his super senior season in 2023, Jones was an honorable mention all-league pick again.
