Omar Khan's first ever first round pick after being promoted to general manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023 was a trade-up in the first round to select Broderick Jones, and that decision continues to look worse and worse.
When Jones was drafted, he was viewed as more of a developmental project who had the athletic traits to eventually become a high-level offensive tackle. He had only 19 career starts at Georgia, so there was always going to be an adjustment period at the NFL level.
The Steelers initially put Jones at right tackle, despite left tackle being his natural position, and he struggled. That ultimately led Pittsburgh to select Troy Fautanu in the first round the following year, moving Jones back to left tackle. Unfortunately, the move back to his natural position did not suddenly fix things, as Jones continued to struggle.
Last season, Jones was placed on injured reserve after suffering a neck injury in Week 12. Then, this past offseason, the Steelers added another tackle by selecting Max Iheanachor in the first round. That move made it feel like Jones' future in Pittsburgh was no longer going to extend much further. With Fautanu expected to eventually take over at left tackle, the Steelers could have Dylan Cook and Iheanachor competing for the right tackle job, leaving Jones without a clear path to a starting role.
The Steelers were already unsure whether Jones would be ready in time to factor into the competition at tackle, but now that he has played in both preseason games, the bigger question is whether Pittsburgh even wants to keep him around.
Jones' latest performance did little to quiet the concerns surrounding him and instead raises a much bigger question: Are the Steelers actually willing to move on from their former first-round pick before the season even begins?
After struggling in Friday's preseason game against the Jets, will the Pittsburgh Steelers cut Broderick Jones?
Against the Jets on Friday, Jones once again played deep into the game, which shows just how uncertain the Steelers remain about what to do with him. Even with a new coaching staff in place, the team has yet to find a clear role for the former first-round pick.
Jones has played snaps at both tackle spots throughout the preseason, but his struggles have followed him regardless of where he lines up. Early in Friday's game, he was beaten for a sack, and then in the second half, he gave up another sack against the Jets' third-string defense.
For a player who was once viewed as a potential long-term starter for the Steelers, struggling against backups is obviously not a good sign. Jones is still working his way back from the neck injury that ended his 2025 season, but at this point, the concerns go beyond the injury. He has struggled throughout his NFL career to consistently show that he can be a reliable starting tackle.
That now leaves the Steelers with a decision to make. Do they keep Jones around as a depth piece, or have they seen enough to move on from him during final roster cuts and bring in a veteran to fill that role?
There could also be a trade market for Jones. With 38 career NFL starts under his belt, a team dealing with injuries or desperate for help along the offensive line could potentially take a chance on him. However, after the way he has played, it is difficult to imagine the Steelers getting much in return. At this point, a Day 3 draft pick may be the best they could realistically hope for.
The Steelers hoped a new coaching staff and a fresh start would help Jones turn his career around, but so far, that has not happened. At some point, Pittsburgh may have to accept that Jones simply may not be a player they can fix.
A change of scenery could ultimately be the best thing for him, but after another poor performance against the Jets, the former first-round pick now finds himself in legitimate danger of being cut.
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