The Pittsburgh Steelers are remaining busy as the 2023 NFL Draft is quickly approaching. The team has had numerous meetings with a multitude of players that could help fill an area of need. After weeks of mock drafts and deliberation, it appears as though many members of the media are transitioning from the initial idea that the Steelers would go cornerback in the first round to addressing the need to bolster the offensive line. The name at the forefront of this speculation is Broderick Jones.
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Why Steelers Are Shifting Focus Towards Jones
When it comes to the Steelers and whom they’ll draft with the 17th overall pick, there are a wide range of opinions. A sizable percentage of fans feel that Pittsburgh either will or should select a corner in the first round, primarily names like Christian Gonzalez, Joey Porter Jr. or perhaps Devon Witherspoon. However, according to Adam Bittner and Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the most recent trend from national draft analysts have them “pushing cornerbacks up the board” which could cause an offensive tackle, like Jones, to fall closer to the Steelers draft range. But why is Jones the one that is being specified as Pittsburgh’s primary target?
The University of Georgia product is currently listed at six foot four, weighing 310 pounds and is young at 21 years old. Brian Batko believes that Jones is a player who has the potential to come into the NFL and be a starter right away. Batko also mentioned that if the Steelers got him, he would be able to compete with current left tackle Dan Moore Jr.
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Batko continued by comparing the two saying that even though Jones isn’t quite as big as Moore, who is listed at six foot six and 315 pounds, Jones is longer and more athletic. In addition, Jones is viewed as being nimble and able to move well in space. Batko also mentioned how Georgia was allowed to do a great deal on offense, both on the ground and through the air because of how well Jones performed in run and pass protection. Batko projects Jones to be that franchise left tackle of the future.
“I don’t think they’ve had many chances in recent years to draft a player such as that which would make Broderick Jones all the more tempting.”
How Jones Stacks Up Against Other O-Line Prospects
While we understand that Broderick Jones is a big-time name for the offensive line class in the upcoming draft, we also know that he isn’t the only hot commodity. There is Paris Johnson Jr. out of Ohio State University. He is a solid and good quality player, but when comparing him to Jones, as the NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger did a few weeks ago on The PM Team w/ Poni & Mueller, Jones is already on par with the former Georgia lineman.
“I like Broderick Jones better,” Baldinger said. "I’m not knocking Paris Johnson. I saw Paris play guard last year and he played tackle this year. He’s a versatile guy and he’s talented. You watch Broderick Jones at Georgia; he looks like Andrew Thomas from the New York Giants. It took [Thomas] two years to figure it out and he’s a really good player. This guy Broderick Jones looks like that right now. He’s a young kid that is going to get stronger.”
A huge compliment already, but Baldinger didn’t stop there. He continued to praise Jones even when comparing him to arguably the most sought-after lineman in the 2023 class in Northwestern University product Peter Skoronski.
“I don’t know how you could go wrong with Broderick Jones,” Baldinger continued. "He makes it look easy, which scares me because I don’t think anything should be easy.”
“Do you like him more than Skoronski,” Mueller interrupted.
“Yeah, I do. I like Skoronski a lot don’t get me wrong,” Baldinger replied. “I don’t think Skoronski is Rashawn Slater. If he was, I’d like Skoronski a lot more because Slater was unreal. I don’t know that Skoronski has that kind of movement. I think Skoronski can be an All-Pro guard the way that Zach Martin, Quentin Nelson, and Joel Bittonio. All those guys were tackles and became All-Pro guards.”
It definitely seems like Jones will be the target of many teams looking to beef up their front five, but the question that will remain is the realistic likelihood of the Steelers being within striking distance to draft him. Mock drafts can only predict so much, but if there is any realism to the trend of linemen falling in the draft, then perhaps the Steelers can snag Jones and have a long serving member of the “Pickett Fence.”
Do you believe the Steelers will draft Broderick Jones? How would you feel if they did? Be sure to tell us in the comment section and on social media.
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