Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2026 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with two players each day between June 13 and July 28. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
OT BRODERICK JONES
Experience/age: fourth season, 25
Contract status: $5.29 million cap hit in 2026, after which scheduled for unrestricted free agency
The past: A native of the state of Georgia and a high school All-American at Lithonia High School, it should come as little surprise that Jones chose the University of Georgia for his college. Jones spent three years playing for the Bulldogs, twice part of national championship teams. Though he made just 19 college starts, the Steelers traded up to select him at No. 14 overall in the 2023 draft as Omar Khan’s first selection as general manager.
Although he played left tackle in college and was projected to shine there as a pro, Jones eventually took over as the Steelers’ right tackle as a rookie. The following year, the Steelers again drafted an offensive tackle in Round 1, Troy Fautanu. Despite a preseason injury to Fautanu, he had supplanted Jones as the starter at right tackle by Week 2. Though Jones rotated into that game against the Broncos, a series of penalties against him led to coaches keeping Fautanu in the rest of that game in Denver. But when Fautanu suffered what would be a season-ending knee injury in practice days later, Jones reclaimed the starting right tackle spot and kept it for the rest of 2024.
By last year’s camp, Jones had been moved to left tackle to take over for free-agency departure Dan Moore Jr. Jones allowed three sacks in the season-opening win at the New York Jets. But he settled in and by November appeared on his way to establishing himself as the Steelers’ long-term left tackle. Then, though, Jones suffered a neck injury during the second half of a Nov. 25 loss at the Chicago Bears.
Broderick Jones (neck) is mostly limited to just stretching and light work during this Steelers minicamp pic.twitter.com/mfdSMDlrEO
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) June 3, 2026
2026 outlook: Initially termed a “stinger,” that ailment still hinders Jones some 7 ½ months later. It clearly had an effect on how the Steelers approached the offseason: they declined a fifth-year option for Jones that would have paid him $19.1 million in 2027 and drafted another offensive tackle in the first round (Max Iheanachor).
Jones over the coming weeks was a mere limited participant in organized team activities and minicamp. He was spotted taking part in stretches and in his practice jersey but never did take part in team drills. Khan and new coach Mike McCarthy were consistent throughout the spring that Jones’ health was a question mark.
The Steelers tweaked their offensive line during OTAs, flipping Fautanu over to left tackle and giving Dylan Cook first-team reps at right tackle. Iheanachor is on the second team at right tackle. Jones, it seems, is a forgotten man.
Life comes at you fast in the NFL, which plows forward without regard to injury of any individual. Even if Jones was somehow cleared for 100% work over the six-week period between OTAs ending and training camp starting, he would still have lost about six months worth of offseason strength work and other training. Then, there’s the addition of Iheanachor, who suddenly is the new version of prized young tackle prospect that Jones was just a couple years ago.
Before anyone feels too sorry for Jones, however, it should be noted that he holds some culpability in his fate. He, quite frankly, has not played to the level the Steelers envisioned when they gave up a fourth-round pick to take him with what was the Steelers’ second-highest draft choice (14th) since they selected Ben Roethlisberger 11th overall in 2004.
Jones seems destined to open camp on the physically unable to perform list. But even if he doesn’t — if and when he is cleared — he will have to show he has NFL-level strength and still has the ability that made him such a high-end prospect in the draft of 39 months ago. If he can, who knows? As quickly as Jones fell out of favor, he just as rapidly might be called into action — especially if Cook and Iheanachor don’t work out or are injured themselves.