In recent years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have worked to rebuild their offensive line. They’ve spent multiple high draft picks on that group, starting with Broderick Jones. The Steelers spent their first-round pick on Jones in the 2023 draft, but he hasn’t yet lived up to that status. This year, he’s set to be the Steelers’ starting left tackle, so they need to see growth out of him. Analyst Robert Mays recently took a trip to Steelers training camp and shared what coaches said about Jones.
“I think, in talking to some coaches today, the argument for why this group can jell and maybe why we’ll see a different version of Broderick Jones, for example,” Mays said recently on The Athletic Football Show podcast. “I think he’s a little bit more confident, a little bit more mature.
“That was something that they really had to work through over the last couple of years, just like his approach to things and where he was mentally. And I think he feels a little bit more settled. And they think that him playing next to Isaac Seumalo, instead of next to a fourth-round rookie like last year, is going to be a settling factor for him. Good in theory, let’s see if it works out.”
Near the beginning of training camp, Jones was struggling. There were several reports of him having tough reps in practice. After his poor 2024 season, that didn’t feel like an encouraging sign for Jones’ development.
However, more recently, Jones’ play has picked up. He’s seemingly found his footing more, showing some of the talent that made him a first-round pick.
Having Jones finally blossom would be a great boon to the Steelers’ offense. They signed 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers to be their quarterback. While Rodgers looks like he has gas left in the tank, he won’t be able to display that if the Steelers can’t keep him upright. Jones is set to protect his blindside. Therefore, his job is even more critical this year. The Steelers’ potential depends heavily on Rodgers.
Previously, it was reported that Jones’ maturity and attitude were issues. He came into the league as a young player with limited experience, so that’s not surprising. However, according to Mays, Steelers coaches believe they’ve corrected those problems. Hopefully, that shows up on the field, too.
If Jones does reach his potential, the Steelers’ offensive line could be sitting pretty. Zach Frazier looks like a stud, and training camp reports on Troy Fautanu have been good. Also, Mason McCormick put together a solid rookie season last year, and Seumalo gives them a steady veteran. Having Jones progress in a positive direction would help solidify that group.
