Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t have many glaring needs on their roster. But, if the opportunity presented itself, landing one of the top offensive linemen in the draft class would be a good way to go.
That is the exact route that the Steelers ended up taking. They made a trade with the New England Patriots, moving into the No. 14 slot ahead of the New York Jets, who were also reportedly in the mix for an offensive tackle. All it cost Pittsburgh to move up was a fourth-round pick, which they later recouped.
With the 14th pick, the Steelers selected offensive tackle Broderick Jones out of Georgia. He was the last prospect available that could step into the lineup on Day 1 and find success, so Omar Khan got aggressive and made a move for him.
Evaluating offensive lineman during the early practice sessions aren’t easy as they are padless and without much contact. But, it is a chance for rookies to make a first impression and by all accounts, the one that Jones made has been positive.
During the team’s minicamp, offensive line coach Pay Meyer spoke very highly about the former Bulldog. There is a lot to like but cautioned that the learning curve from college to the pros does take time to overcome.
“He’s talented, he’s young, he’s athletic, he’s got all the tools,” Meyer said. “The thing is he wants to be great, so he stays with that, and he wants to be great, and he has that attitude to do that. And when the time’s ready for him, he’s going to be in there.”
Jones has yet to break into the starting lineup, as he wasn’t receiving first-team reps during OTAs and minicamp. Incumbent left tackle Dan Moore Jr. has remained in that spoke with Chukwuma Okorafor handling the right tackle reps.
It would not be surprising if Jones broke into the lineup at some point during training camp as the Steelers will assuredly want to see what their first-round pick has to offer. But, as Meyer stated, they aren’t going to make a move just because of his draft pedigree.
Jones will have to earn his spot in the lineup just like everyone else. When that will be, is anyone’s guess. Whether it is during training camp or later into the regular season, the Steelers will wait to ensure that Jones is 100 percent ready before making a move.
