"It'd Be A Surprise": Steelers' Broderick Jones Gets Bad News

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a variety of concerns regarding their offensive line. There are questions about who will be the starting left guard after Isaac Seumalo's departure, and the left tackle spot is a bit confusing as well. It was a huge point of conversation following the end of the 2025 season. Backup tackle Dylan Cook did a surprisingly good job during starter Broderick Jones' absence. Jones suffered a severe neck injury, and his status is still up in the air. As of now, Jones will continue to rehab and hopefully be back for training camp. 

Jones was drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Georgia. He started in Pittsburgh as a right tackle and began developing there before being moved to left tackle in 2025. Troy Fautanu went on to be the leader of the right side. 

Jones has had time to adjust to the left side of the line, and he started taking steps in the right direction in 2025, before a major injury put him out of play. Jones will be playing on the fourth year of his rookie deal. Being that he was a first-round pick, there is a fifth-year option available in his contract. 

The Steelers have the opportunity to pay him, according to projections, a little less than $20 million in 2027 if they exercise his option. This is a somewhat average going rate for tackles, but the Steelers might want to move in another direction, or his injury could prove to be too risky. On an episode of the Yinziders podcast, Steelers beat writer Mike DeFabo spoke on the Steelers decision on Jones' option. 

"Now, due to the injury, it almost seems like it'd be a surprise if they end up picking up that fifth year. You might have to be thinking about, if it's 2027, 'who's your starter at left tackle?' but you may even be asking who's the left tackle in Week 1 of 2026, depending on how this whole injury situation unfolds," DeFabo said. 

Pittsburgh has a huge choice to make with Jones, as he would be an expensive piece in 2027. The 2026 season will dictate a lot for Jones; he will have to prove himself worthy of the price tag and rehab his injury if he wants an extension, but the fifth-year option seems like an unlikely outcome. There are a lot of roadblocks ahead for the young tackle who will look to be a part of the Steelers' reinvigorated offensive line for years to come. 

Jones' fifth-year option would be an investment, but if he takes the next steps necessary to earn it, the price might not seem so bad. Former Steelers tackle Dan Moore Jr. signed a huge contract with the Tennessee Titans. 

The price ended up being a four-year contract at $82 million. Moore came off a season where he allowed the most sacks in the NFL and would make likely more per year than Jones on the fifth-year option. The price point is still expensive, but compared to some of the other tackles in the league, it seems more reasonable.

Jones needs to improve to get this, but if he can be an above-average player for the Steelers, it would be just one less thing that Pittsburgh will need to address in 2027. Pittsburgh has many contract extensions due following the upcoming season, and passing no giving Jones the fifth-year option also frees up money for the future. 

The Steelers Have Invested A Lot On The Line

Pittsburgh has invested a lot of draft capital in getting the offensive line back to form. Jones was a first-round pick, Fautanu was a first-rounder, and starting center Zach Frazier was a second-round selection. 

The line continues to get better and grow together as a unit, and the results were clear with their performance last season. They continued to grow throughout the season and were effective. The group was constructed to be a mainstay of the team, and so far, the results are promising. 

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