Tim Benz: Broderick Jones still thinks LT is ideal, but he won't lobby for a change

If you are looking for positives from the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers, the rookie class is one of them.

First-round pick Broderick Jones and second-round picks Joey Porter Jr. and Keeanu Benton all became starters and/or regular contributors throughout the season. Third-rounder Darnell Washington played in all 17 games, logging more than half the offensive snaps at tight end over the last eight weeks of the regular season.

Fourth-round pick Nick Herbig was a key special teams contributor. In Week 17, he also turned in perhaps the biggest play of the season when he strip-sacked Geno Smith in the fourth quarter of a one-score game in Seattle with seven minutes left.

STUD @nickherbig_

: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/T87FSng3KS pic.twitter.com/RJIBTrndiC

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 31, 2023

Even Spencer Anderson and Cory Trice may help next year’s club, depending on Trice’s healing knee and the offensive line numbers game for Anderson.

Generally speaking, the first four graded out well, with Porter winning team Rookie of the Year. In Jones’ case, he ended up starting 10 games, including the last nine in a row. But because of Chuks Okorafor’s mid-season benching and the team’s unending desire to get whatever they can out of Dan Moore on the left side, Jones played primarily right tackle.

That’s despite the fact Jones was presumably drafted in the first round to be a left tackle and has most of his playing experience on that side.

“It really wasn’t that bad,” Jones said of the position change to the right side. “With the offseason coming up, me being able to get practice in, just continue to get that repetition right. Getting used to it, you never know what can happen next season. That’s going to be big for me.”

It sounds like Jones is at least preparing for the prospect of staying on the right side of the offensive formation. That’s probably wise, seeing as how the team is enamored with Moore. Plus, the coaching staff thinks Moore is “significantly better” on the left side than he is on the right, and he is under contract for another year at just $1.2 million.

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Meanwhile, the team can save $8.7 million by cutting Okorafor on the right side.

“Being in my natural position (left tackle) is always ideal. But, me playing right? That doesn’t hurt anything either,” Jones said.

Eh, maybe it does. Maybe the Steelers would get more out of Jones if he is in his natural spot, and they can get a right tackle in free agency who is superior to what Moore would be on either side.

Regardless, Jones said he is willing to play either side next year, and he doesn’t plan on lobbying position coach Pat Meyer or head coach Mike Tomlin for an offseason switch back to the left tackle spot. “It’s up to them at the end of the day,” Jones said. “I really don’t (have a) say-so in that. I just want to be prepared whenever they need me.”

Jones seems to know his place as a rookie and is being deferential on the matter. I think he also knows that publicly angling for the left tackle job would put Moore in a hard spot, and the two forged a friendship dating back to minicamp.

I get why Jones would want to take Moore’s feelings into account. But the organization shouldn’t feel obligated to do so. Here’s what Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan should do:

• Move Jones to the left side.

• Cut Okorafor. Clearly, that’s what the coaching staff wants to do anyway. And it seems like Okorafor would like to move on as well.

• Use the cap savings and get a quality right tackle.

• Make Moore the swing tackle. If he can’t pick up the right side better, cut him too. Anderson can allegedly play anywhere along the line. Make him a third tackle, or find another swing guy (perhaps Dylan Cook) if Anderson is better off inside.

Jones is the first-round pick. He has the high-end talent. The team should cater to his skills. Have other people move around the line.

Even if Jones is too nice to say it on his own.