The Pittsburgh Steelers made preemptive plans during the 2026 offseason to prepare for a future without Broderick Jones. After drafting Arizona State right tackle Max Iheanachor in the first round of the NFL Draft in April, the Steelers moved 2024 first-round pick Troy Fautanu to left tackle (where Jones played last season).
And we're already finding out why these might have been wise decisions.
On Thursday, Broderick revealed to the media that he currently weighs 300 pounds. While Jones is still considered large compared to the average human being, 300 pounds is just the seventh percentile for weight among NFL offensive tackles, according to Mockdraftable's database, dating back to 1999.
Last summer, Jones struggled to anchor against the bull rush, and his light frame factored into his struggles, so it's disappointing to see him come into training camp so light again this year. The 2023 first-round pick out of Georgia admitted that, ideally, he wants to weigh in the 310-315 range, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor.
Just when things were starting to look up for Jones, his slight frame should have us worried all over again.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should be worried about Broderick Jones' weight at training camp
While it's a terrific sign that Jones was able to avoid the dreaded PUP list after undergoing spinal fusion surgery this offseason, it's clear that he needs to add healthy mass to his frame.
When you compare Jones' physique to some of the top tackles around the league, it's almost as if he's not playing the same position. Penei Sewell is 335 pounds, Tristan Wirfs is 320 pounds, Jordan Mailata is 365 pounds, and Lane Johnson is 325 pounds.
There's a similar discrepancy when you look at Jones' own Steelers teammates. Troy Fautanu is 317 pounds, and rookie Max Iheanachor is 330 pounds. Even tight end Darnell Washington is notably heavier—and you can see it on the practice field.
The O-line is a big-man's game, and Jones is in the wrong weight class.
This isn't to say that Broderick can't get bigger and stronger. But we're already counting down the weeks until the start of the 2026 NFL season, and there's only so much muscle mass a player can put on in that finite amount of time.
Jones is entering an all-important season with the Pittsburgh Steelers that could make or break his NFL career. After the team declined his fifth-year option, Jones is set to be an unrestricted free agent after the season, and his future paycheck will be determined by how well he performs in 2026. It's not a good sign that his weight is in the seventh percentile among NFL tackles.
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