Don't look now, but polarizing Steelers OT Broderick Jones is improving

Broderick Jones is a bust... at least that's what we've convinced ourselves. But as Steelers fans, we should know better than anyone that sometimes all an offensive lineman needs is time and reps to improve.

Dan Moore Jr. is the perfect example of this. After grading out as one of the league's worst offensive starting tackles for three straight years to begin his NFL career, Moore finally turned things around in his fourth season. Almost overnight, Moore has transformed from a complete liability into an OT who will earn a massive paycheck in 2025.

Moore, a fourth-round pick by the Steelers in 2021, is evidence that we can't give up on a player too quickly -- especially if all the tools, talent, and upside are there for said player to turn things around.

After being encouraged by Broderick's play at right tackle as a rookie, Steelers fans had enormous expectations for the second-year tackle in 2024. Unfortunately, things couldn't have started off much worse.

Jones, a left tackle by trade, was forced to stick at right tackle in his second season. Somehow, he appeared to regress in nearly every area with sloppy technique, lazy footwork, and an overall lack of play awareness.

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Entering the Week 9 bye, Jones was one of the lowest-graded offensive tackles in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. However, the signs of improvement are there, and Jones may end up making Steelers fans eat their words.

Broderick Jones is coming off his best game with the Steelers

After recording just two penalties during his entire rookie season, Jones has already logged six penalties through half a season in his sophomore campaign -- three of which came during the Broncos game in Week 2. This means that, over his last seven games, Jones has committed just two penalties (a number we can live with for a raw OT).

When you examine the All-22 film, it's easy to identify Broderick Jones' shortcomings. But I must say: his flaws were much more difficult to spot in his Week 10 performance against the Washington Commanders. Jones was more consistent on a play-by-play basis and didn't have any egregious and disgusting reps in pass protection.

His PFF grades match the film. In Week 10, Jones earned a top-five grade on the team from Pro Football Focus with a 74.0 overall.

What really stands out is Jones' 82.7 pass-block grade. His previous career-high mark in this department came back in Week 14 of his rookie season against the Patriots when he earned a 78.2 pass-block grade (minimum 25 snaps). Outside of this, Jones only had one other game in his career where his pass-block grade topped 70.0.

While we don't want to jinx it, Broderick took a big step in the right direction in his first game after the bye week. Now in three consecutive games, Jones' PFF grade has spiked significantly in each contest.

We knew when the Steelers selected Jones with the 14th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft that he wasn't a finished product. The uber-talented OT prospect possessed all the size, strength, mobility, and upside you could ask for in a starting offensive tackle, but was in need of refinement.

Perhaps the Steelers are finally turning this ball of clay into a work of art. It's too early to tell, but fans should be thrilled with the fact that Broderick Jones is coming off a career performance and showing the long-forgotten promise we once fell in love with.