Steelers exhausted every excuse not to move Broderick Jones to left tackle

When it comes to individual performances for an offensive tackle, it doesn't get much worse than what we witnessed from Broderick Jones in Pittsburgh's second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. The Steelers' offensive tackle was rag-dolled early and often by edge rusher Greg Rousseau to the point where it was getting embarrassing to watch.

In the first half, Jones gave up two sacks and three pressures while looking like anything but a mid-first-round pick. This was the worst performance by Broderick in a Steelers uniform and one he would love to forget.

Jones was a trending topic on social media during and after the game -- for obvious reasons. Originally counted on to be a cornerstone and building block of this team, the 14th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft hardly looks like a player who has business cracking the roster.

So what's going on with Jones and how can the Steelers fix it?

Steelers must move Broderick Jones to left tackle immediately

There are a dozen excuses we could make for Broderick's ugly performance in his first two preseason games. Jones has been playing with a brace on his right arm since August 2, so a nagging injury could be impacting his punch strength at the point of attack. Meanwhile, offensive line coach Pat Meyer seems to have done little with all the resources Pittsburgh invested into the offensive line.

Whatever excuse fans or the team would make for Jones' struggles, there is literally no reason not to move him to left tackle at this point.

The Steelers have made it clear that Troy Fautanu is going to be their right tackle. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette claims that the 2024 first-round pick has already locked up the RT job when he returns from injury.

At the same time, Jones has been a left tackle through college and high school but was forced to play out of position last year, as Dan Moore Jr. was uncomfortable kicking over to right tackle. Knowing the competition is at left tackle this year, what on earth are the Steelers doing wasting valuable development time with him on the right side of the line?

The struggles are real, but Broderick is a high draft investment who hasn't even received the chance to prove himself as a left tackle for more than a full game. Since being inserted at right tackle for Chukwuma Okorafor as a rookie, everything Jones has done has been inverted of what he learned through high school and college.

With Jones struggling mightily, there's no excuse not to move him back to left tackle. If his struggles persist, then we have some serious issues. Perhaps his elbow injury is impacting his game more than the team anticipated or maybe he's just nowhere near where the team needs him to be.

Either way, you'll never find out if you don't put him at the position he was drafted to play.