5 significant questions for Steelers on the offensive line

Organized team activities and mandatory minicamp gave us a quick look at the Pittsburgh Steelers team we will see in 2023, but early-summer practices oftentimes raise more questions than answers. Many of these questions will be addressed at Steelers training camp as players battle for positioning.

Right now, however, there are a plethora of questions when it comes to the offensive line alone. The Steelers are suddenly very deep at the guard position, and early reports suggest that Broderick Jones is far from guaranteed to start from Week 1. Here are five significant questions for Pittsburgh on the offensive line following OTAs and mandatory minicamp.

5. When will Broderick Jones start?

The question every Steelers fan wants to know is: when will Broderick Jones start? Mark Kaboly of The Athletic suggests that Pittsburgh is content with him sitting and learning for a while. Obviously, things can happen quickly in training camp, but Dan Moore Jr. didn't throw in the towel during OTAs and minicamp.

Instead, Moore has impressed the coaching staff, and the former fourth-round pick stands a real shot at beginning the season as the starter at left tackle. But the Steelers didn't trade up to the 14th overall pick just to have Jones ride the bench. He will get his shot eventually, but when?

This will no doubt be contingent upon the development he shows throughout training camp and the preseason. If Jones progresses quickly, earning a starting job from the gate is realistic. If not, it's possible that we don't see him until mid-season.

It's probably best if we view this as another Mitch Trubisky-Kenny Pickett situation. We know the first-rounder is going to get the job, but Pittsburgh is likely to roll with the veteran at first. Pickett took over at halftime of Week 4, and it's possible that Broderick Jones could claim a starting role at a similar point in his rookie season, barring a significant jump from Dan Moore Jr.