Prospect Profile: OT Josh Jones

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(670 The Score) If the Bears are looking to select the best player available with their initial pick in the NFL Draft, there's a fair chance that player is an offensive tackle. 

That position is considered the deepest in the draft, so there projects to be talented options available for the Bears in the second round, where they own the No. 43 and No. 50 overall picks. One intriguing prospect for the Bears is Houston tackle Josh Jones, who has received many first-round grades but is also considered a developmental prospect.

A four-year starter at Houston, the 6-foot-5, 319-pound Jones embraces that concept as a challenge.

"Of course, I’m not a finished product yet," Jones said at the NFL Combine in February. "I still have a long ways to go -- just technique-wise, they think I should get better at that, become a true offensive lineman. 

"I’m already a good player, but I still got a long ways to go.”

NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein agreed that Jones is a "raw, developmental prospect," and sees his comparison as Bears tackle Bobby Massie. Ironically, if the Bears select Jones or a different tackle in the second round, they'd likely be developing him to eventually replace Massie on their offensive line. 

Massie, who turns 31 in August, has three years remaining on his current contract, but the Bears can move on after the 2020 season without owing anything. While fellow Bears offensive tackle Charles Leno Jr. struggled for much of 2019, he can earn greater job security if he's willing to restructure his contract in a team-friendly manner.

Jones represents a potentially promising fit for the Bears on the offensive line. He's a former basketball player who's still filling out his frame and a developing prospect who can grow with the right coaching. Chicago hopes new offensive line coach Juan Castillo can be instrumental in the development of young players like James Daniels, Germain Ifedi, Alex Bars and Rashaad Coward.

If the Bears see that potential in Jones, he'll be eager to listen and earn his place.

"Become a true offensive lineman," Jones said. "Because the things I do right now, I feel like I can put my body in positions. I can get to my spot because I'm athletic. Once I become a true offensive lineman with my technique, base, hands, I feel like I can it’s going to push me to be very, very good."

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.