Steelers A to Z: After two years on right side, Broderick Jones manning left tackle spot
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 2025 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 12 and July 23. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
OT BRODERICK JONES
Experience/age: Third year, 24 years old
Contract status: $4,534,461 cap hit in 2025, signed through 2026 with club option for 2027.
The past: At 6-foot-5, 311 pounds, Jones cuts an imposing figure, and his raw talent was a reason the Steelers traded up to select him with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2023 draft. Results have been mixed in Jones’ first two NFL seasons as he struggled to grasp right tackle after being projected as a left tackle in the NFL.
The Steelers didn’t want to move Dan Moore Jr., who couldn’t play on the right side, so Jones spent two seasons working primarily at right tackle. He started 11 games as a rookie, including the final 10 on the right side after Chuks Okorafor was benched.
Jones appeared to lose the right tackle job to rookie Troy Fautanu early in the 2024 season. But a season-ending injury to Fautanu opened the door for Jones to make 16 starts at right tackle. He allowed 11 sacks last season, more than any other NFL right tackle.
2025 outlook: With Moore exiting in free agency, the Steelers are putting the left tackle spot back in Jones’ hands. Fautanu, now healthy, will start on the right side, giving the Steelers a pair of unproven bookend tackles.
Jones worked extensively in the offseason at the nuances of playing left tackle, and he has said he feels more comfortable playing at his natural position. The Steelers are counting on the switch reducing the number of penalties that Jones commits, and that he can be a cornerstone of the offensive line this season while protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ blind side.
Jones has financial incentive to have a good season. The Steelers can pick up the fifth-year option on Jones’ contract after this season. If not, he will be eligible for free agency after the 2026 season.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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