Steelers' Broderick Jones Explains The 2 Greatest Improvements He Has Made To His Game

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2025 season has expectations that could be classified as being all over the place. For starters, the 41-year-old quarterback makes it hard to truly predict what to expect from the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers, entering what he says will likely be his final season in the NFL, chose Pittsburgh as his last stop. While his leadership and experience bring undeniable upside, his success will hinge on whether the Steelers can protect him long enough to operate effectively from the pocket.

A major part of that protection will fall on the shoulders of third-year offensive tackle Broderick Jones. After showing promise as a rookie, Jones took a step back in 2024, struggling with consistency and technique. However, entering 2025, there’s a renewed sense of optimism surrounding his growth. Early signs out of camp have been a bit concerning for Jones, but Steelers fans must stay patient until the final product is revealed.

With Rodgers behind center, the urgency for Jones to reach his potential has never been greater, and the Steelers are counting on him to anchor the offensive line and keep their veteran quarterback upright. On Wednesday, Jones named his footwork and mental preparation as his two biggest offseason improvements, but offered little explanation beyond that. 

"Probably my footwork and my hands, just being able to quicken 'em up," Jones said Wednesday after practice. "'ll probably say just being quicker with my hands and feet."

Whatever he discovered behind closed doors could quietly reshape the Steelers' offense in 2025. It also could plague the season. All eyes are on Jones and he knows it. It’s an exciting thought to imagine that Jones has finally made meaningful improvements to his footwork and hand technique, two of the most critical tools for an offensive tackle trying to survive in the NFL. 

While speed and raw athleticism have always been part of his game, those traits were never the real concern. 

What Jones has struggled with is consistency, leverage, and timing, the finer details that separate average tackles from elite ones. When the Steelers made the aggressive move to trade up and select him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the expectation was that he would develop into a long-term cornerstone of the offensive line and possibly even a superstar. 

Instead, entering his third season, the narrative has begun to shift. With uneven performances and a noticeable step back in 2024, some fans and analysts are already starting to label him a bust. As the 2025 season approaches, there is no denying it. Jones is facing a true make-or-break year that will either revive his trajectory or redefine his future in Pittsburgh.

Steelers Will Soon Be Making A Big Decision About Broderick Jones

After the 2025 NFL season, the Steelers will be faced with a difficult decision regarding Jones. They’ll have to decide whether or not to pick up his fifth-year option. If Jones regresses even further in 2025, it’s hard to imagine the team choosing to make that commitment. This feels like a defining year for him.

With the return of a healthy Troy Fautanu on the right side, Jones finally gets the opportunity to move back to his natural position at left tackle. It’s something he wasn’t able to do during his first two seasons in Pittsburgh. Despite being forced to play out of position, Jones never complained or made excuses. Now, he gets to line up where he feels most comfortable. The time is now for him to prove he was worth that first-round investment.

Both tackles will see a lot of pressure in 2025 as both were first round picks. Fautanu and Jones will have the season essentially on their shoulders. 

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