Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan made an aggressive move to stake his claim when he traded up in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft to select Broderick Jones. While Jones was viewed as a developmental prospect coming out of the University of Georgia, his rare combination of size, athleticism, and physical tools gave him one of the highest ceilings in the class. The Steelers believed they could mold him into their franchise left tackle for years to come.
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Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones walks on the field as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Through his first three seasons in Pittsburgh, Jones has experienced plenty of highs and lows. At times, he's flashed the dominant traits that made him a first-round pick, overpowering defenders and looking every bit like a future cornerstone. Other times, he's appeared out of sync with the rest of the offensive line, struggling with assignments and looking uncomfortable in protection. His inconsistency has made it difficult to fully evaluate where he stands entering 2026.
After the 2025 campaign, Jones' future was briefly thrown into question because of a severe neck injury. Fortunately for both Jones and the Steelers, he has been medically cleared to return and is ramping up at training camp as he works his way back into football shape. With his health no longer in doubt, the conversation has shifted from whether he'll play to where he'll play.
Some have wondered if Jones could see time at guard, but that idea doesn't appear to have much traction inside the organization. Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo addressed the possibility during an appearance on The Fan Morning Show on Wednesday, making it clear that he doesn't expect Pittsburgh to move Jones inside. Despite the speculation, it doesn't sound like the Steelers have any plans to make him a guard.
"I have not heard any buzz about that," Fittipaldo said while speaking on 93.7 The Fan's Morning Show on Wednesday. "Just look at the right guard situation, too, Dorin. You have Spencer Anderson, Brock Hoffman, Gennings Dunker. That's a crowded position group as well. The fact is, he's never played there. He's only played tackle. I won't close the door on the idea entirely, but I just don't see it playing out that way at this point."
Fittipaldo doesn't believe there's a realistic path for Jones to move inside to guard, and that may actually be the best outcome for everyone involved. The Steelers have already experimented with moving him between left and right tackle throughout his career, and that lack of stability hasn't exactly helped his development. Asking him to learn another position now would only add another layer of uncertainty to a player who desperately needs consistency.
The bigger factor is Pittsburgh's depth. With Jones healthy enough to participate in training camp, the Steelers suddenly have legitimate competition across the offensive line. While his return is undoubtedly good news for the team, it's also created a harsh reality for Jones personally. He no longer enters the season with a starting job waiting for him. Instead, he'll have to earn it.
Steelers Leave Broderick Jones With No Room For Error
That pressure is only amplified by the Steelers' decision to decline Jones' fifth-year option earlier this offseason. Barring a new contract, 2026 could be his final year in Pittsburgh. The organization is essentially asking him to prove he deserves to be part of its long-term plans, and this season will likely determine whether he gets that opportunity.
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Steelers offensive lineman Broderick Jones (77) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The brutal reality is that Jones has gone from being viewed as the Steelers' tackle of the future to a player fighting to reclaim his place. As things stand, Pittsburgh's projected offensive line features Troy Fautanu at left tackle, Mason McCormick at left guard, Zach Frazier at center, and Spencer Anderson holding the edge at right guard.
At right tackle, Jones finds himself in the team's biggest position battle alongside Max Iheanachor and Dylan Cook. For a player once considered a franchise cornerstone, that's a sobering position to be in.
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