Category: Broderick Jones

Steelers GM Omar Khan reveals future plans for Broderick Jones

Omar Khan says the Steelers view Broderick Jones as a left tackle.

On Thursday, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan addressed the media at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine and addressed the future plans for current starting right tackle Broderick Jones.

Jones was drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft and was the starting left tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs. But when the Steelers needed him in the second half of 2023, he stepped in for Chuks Okorafor and was tremendous.

But according to Khan, Jones is a left tackle and that’s where the team wants him to end up

Versatility on the offensive line is important, and he proved that he could play right tackle, but he was drafted to be a left tackle and, eventually, he will be a left tackle. When that is, time will tell.

 

If you connect the dots it wouldn’t be a far-flung assumption to make that the Steelers could be looking to add offensive tackle Amaraius Mims in the 2024 NFL draft. Mims was the starting right tackle at Georgia opposite Jones and might be the best pure right tackle in the draft.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Broderick Jones says Steelers ‘kicking the door down’ to AFC playoffs

The Steelers need a lot to go their way this weekend, but Broderick Jones is pushing for it.

The Pittsburgh Steelers need a lot to go their way this weekend, but rookie offensive lineman Broderick Jones is pushing for it.

“Slip up and let us in we kicking the door down,” he recently posted in his Instagram story.

All is not lost for Pittsburgh to make it happen, but it’s not a win-and-get-in situation. If only it were. Unfortunately, its three-game skid in the middle of the second half of the season put a wrench in those plans.

The Steelers need to beat the Baltimore Ravens for the most straightforward path. If the Steelers win, they need one of two things to happen to get into the playoffs: The Jacksonville Jaguars (versus Tennessee Titans) or Buffalo Bills (versus the Miami Dolphins) must lose one of their games to the Tennessee Titans or Miami Dolphins.

We’d rather not think about it, but there is a route should the Steelers lose this afternoon. If that were to happen, they’d need the Jaguars to lose specifically and the Denver Broncos to beat the Las Vegas Raiders.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers T Broderick Jones takes team-first approach to ground success

Don’t tell Broderick Jones that it’s no coincidence the Steelers have improved their ground game since he was inserted into starting lineup.

The success the Pittsburgh Steelers had on the ground in Week 12 wasn’t a result of Matt Canada no longer having his hand in things. The unit’s revival is something that’s been building for weeks.

The common denominator? Rookie tackle Broderick Jones.

Since he’s supplanted Chuks Okorafor as the starter in Week 9, Pittsburgh’s averaged a whopping 174 yards per game. Prior to that, the unit averaged just 79.7 per game — nearly 100 fewer yards. That’s an incredible turnaround.

But you won’t hear Jones take the credit.

“It’s not just me,” Jones told Steelers media on Thursday. “Like they say, one man don’t stop no show; one man don’t start it. It’s us as a collective. We’re playing more together. Everybody’s on the same page. That’s all I feel it is.”

He’s not entirely wrong. The other four linemen have picked up their game significantly. But the energy that “the oversized toddler” has brought to the line can’t be overlooked as to why.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers depth chart shows indecision on Broderick Jones

The Pittsburgh Steelers depth chart has an “or” between right tackles Broderick Jones and veteran Chuks Okorafor.

Offensive tackle Broderick Jones has played solidly in limited outings, two starts, for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But he’s not ready to publicly crown him starter — or at least he won’t tip his hand to the Green Bay Packers.

But rest assured, Jones is starting.

“I thought he did some really good things,” Mike Tomlin said of Jones in his Tuesday press conference. “I thought we did some really good things, and so it’s probably worthy of extended look considering he did those things and we did those things on a short week. I’m not going all the way in, but we’ll probably take another look at him and see what it looks like this week.”

A depth chart available to Steelers media listed an “OR” between Jones and veteran Chuks Okorafor, whom Jones replaced in Pittsburgh’s win over Tennessee.

“It means exactly what it says: Or,” Tomlin said with a chuckle.

Jones potentially replacing Okorafor at right tackle could have more to do with Dan Moore than anything. “He is significantly better at left than he is at right.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin stunting O-line if Broderick Jones isn’t named starter

Given how well Broderick Jones has played at both spots, would relegating him to reserves be the right move from Mike Tomlin?

14th overall draft pick Broderick Jones got just his second career start on Sunday in lieu of the benched right tackle Chuks Okorafor. His first start came versus the Baltimore Ravens on the left side for the injured Dan Moore. In Okorafor’s case, he was benched for something he said during the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Once Moore was healthy, Jones reverted to his backup role. If Okorafor’s benching was merely a one-time punishment, he could be back in the lineup for the Green Bay Packers matchup.

But given how well Jones has played at both spots, would relegating him to reserves be the right move?

Jones is in the dark about whether he’ll start this week but is playing it like it’s all good either way. “I’m just always ready when my name is called,” he told Steelers media after beating the Tennessee Titans. “The boss tell you to do something, you do it. If push come to shove, I have to come back to it and do it again. I’m looking forward to it.”

There’ll be some noise from the fanbase if Mike Tomlin keeps Jones out of the starting lineup. He helped the unit play at a higher level, given Pittsburgh had its best ground production all year and Kenny Pickett wasn’t sacked for the first time since 2022.

As he did with Joey Porter Jr. last week, Tomlin could very well name Jones the starter at his press conference today. It’s also possible he doesn’t tip his hand to Green Bay.

There’s a method to Tomlin’s madness. For as long as he’s head coach, what he says goes. Steelers fans just need to trust that he will make the right call. But if he doesn’t start Jones, he’ll be stunting the growth of his offensive line.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers T Broderick Jones in the dark about role vs. Rams

To start or not to start?

Dan Moore Jr. returned to practice on Monday with the first team, but it’s unclear whether he’ll actually start Sunday or if it’ll be rookie Broderick Jones.

According to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo, Jones hasn’t been told who will start at left tackle versus the Los Angeles Rams.

Tomlin didn’t seem overly confident about Moore’s MCL sprain in his Tuesday presser. If he can’t go for health reasons, that’s one thing. But if he can go and starts over Jones, you’d have to question Tomlin’s decision-making.

In his 17 years of coaching, Tomlin has been stubborn about starting rookies. The same is happening with Joey Porter Jr. He’s performed decidedly better than any of the safeties in the backfield, yet his snaps are few and far between.

Starting a rookie backfired when forced to start Kendrick Green in his first year, but Green was a mid-round guy. The Steelers traded up with their first overall pick to get Jones to protect Kenny Pickett‘s blindside. He had a stellar first career outing and should be given a chance to keep it going. Dan Moore is not the future. Broderick Jones is. That future should start now.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers gave rookie Broderick Jones ‘no help’ in first career start vs. Ravens

Steelers rookie tackle Broderick Jones only needed one game as a starter to prove his time is now.

The Pittsburgh Steelers gave rookie offensive tackle Broderick Jones no help versus the Baltimore Ravens. But he didn’t appear to need it.

“He was terrific,” NFL analyst Brian Baldinger said in his film breakdown. “Really sound.”

Jones handled himself like a veteran versus former first-overall defensive end/linebacker Jadevon Clowney. According to Pro Football Focus Ultimate, he allowed no sacks and just a 2.6 percent pressure rate in 38 pass-blocking snaps.

“He’s on an island with Jadeveon Clowney, no problems. They gave him absolutely no help. He was out there on his own… He stops Jadeveon Clowney in two steps. It’s beautiful. You can’t get any better on the island.”

In 28 run-blocking snaps, Jones did his best work on outside zone and man, offering five plays with a positive grade on those run concepts.

Offensive line coach Pat Meyer said on Thursday that they’ll have to evaluate everything once Dan Moore Jr. (knee) is healthy enough to return. But the Steelers would be crazy to put Moore back in at starter.

 

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

It’s time for the Steelers to say ‘bye-bye’ to OT Dan Moore

The Pittsburgh Steelers wouldn’t have traded up for OT Broderick Jones if they didn’t think he could be a solid performer at the NFL level.

Mike Tomlin is known for driving Steelers Nation nuts by bringing his rookies along slowly. Fans want more Joey Porter Jr., and it just hasn’t happened yet. We’ve barely heard a peep out of tight end Darnell Washington.

Along the offensive line, which, per PFF, currently ranks sixth-worst in the NFL, Broderick Jones has played only four snaps. In Week 1, against the San Fransisco 49ers, Jones stepped in at left tackle when Dan Moore shifted to the right after Chuks Okorafor exited with a concussion.

PFF grades are junk. The determining factors for arriving at them are complicated, confusing and nonsensical. Somehow T.J. Watt, who played out of his damn mind, graded lower than Myles Garrett, who was ineffective.

But stats don’t lie. Research from The Score’s Daniel Valente shows that Moore leads the NFL in pressures allowed (15), hurries allowed (10) and QB hits allowed (4). What he didn’t do was allow a sack on Kenny Pickett versus the Browns’ Garrett.

What Jones has done thus far is a very small sample size, but it’s more than worth demoting Moore and giving him a shot. The third-year tackle allows a lot of action to come at Pickett’s blind side. To develop as a passer and survey the field, he must be given realistic time in the pocket. But he can only do that if he trusts that his line will protect him.

Here’s a thought: See what you have in Jones. If he’s as good as his first-round pedigree suggests, shop Moore around prior to the October 31 trade deadline. He’ll only have 1.5 years left on his contract by then. Experienced and serviceable O-linemen are like gold in the NFL. Omar Khan can shake a team down for future picks and move on.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers sign OT Broderick Jones to 4-year contract

Pittsburgh and Broderick Jones have agreed to terms on a four-year contract.

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

The Pittsburgh Steelers are busy this Friday. First, the team announced they had signed second-round pick Keeanu Benton to a four-year contract and now according to NFL reporter Mike Garafolo the team has also signed first-round pick, offensive tackle Broderick Jones to a four-year contract.

According to Garafolo, the deal is work $16.6 million, most of which we assume will be guaranteed.

The Steelers traded up to the No. 14 pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft to select the former Georgia star to be the starting left tackle. So far, through minicamp Jones has been up and down and what seemed like a foregone conclusion that Jones will be the opening day starter might be in jeopardy. Nevertheless, the future is Jones and it’s is great he is signed before the start of training camp.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]