No NFL team wants to shift its draft philosophy in the week of the NFL Draft. Unfortunately, the Pittsburgh Steelers might be forced to do just that after the latest stunning Broderick Jones news.
On Monday, ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported that Jones had suffered a setback in his recovery from spinal surgery. Schefter noted on X that his timetable to return to the field is now a major question.
"Steelers left tackle Broderick Jones suffered a setback to the neck injury he sustained last season, and is scheduled to be examined this week to determine whether he will be ready for training camp and/or the start of the season, per league sources," Schefter wrote.
This is the last thing Steelers fans wanted to hear. Early in April, we saw Jones take the field for phase one of the Steelers' offseason workouts, and things seemed optimistic. And with just days until the 2026 NFL Draft, we have to wonder how much the Broderick Jones recovery setback impacts the team's draft philosophy and first-round plans on Thursday.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could pivot to offensive tackle in Round 1 after discouraging Broderick Jones news
Not many of us expected Broderick Jones to be part of the team's long-term plans, thanks to the bumpy start of his NFL career. It was highly unlikely Omar Khan was ever going to pick up Jones' pricey fifth-year option. However, returning to the team on a prove-it deal could still have been on the table. After all, Jones was Khan's first-ever draft pick, and I'm sure he doesn't want to give up on the young, athletic tackle.
But this news changes everything.
Now, instead of riding it out with Jones for his final season, the Steelers could pounce to grab an offensive tackle as soon as the first round. The last thing Khan is going to want is for his future quarterback to not have any remnant of a blindside protector.
While reserve tackle Dylan Cook filled in admirably for Jones late in the season, Cook is 28 years old with a less-than-ideal size and athletic profile, and he's played in just five NFL games. The Steelers can't count on him as a long-term solution at the position.
Meanwhile, wide receiver and offensive guard were two positions at the top of Pittsburgh's draft radar ahead of Thursday night. Either could still be in play with the No. 21 overall pick, or even a trade up.
However, the Jones news throws a curveball at the front office.
If the team gets its top targets wiped out at receiver and guard, tackle could be in play in Round 1—and this feels likely to happen. The closer we get to the draft, the more it seems that the top-three receivers will be off the board, as will Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano and Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane.
If and when this happens, tackle could be next on the list. It's possible that the Steelers could even break the trend and go with a player they didn't meet with for a Pro Day meeting or pre-draft visit in the first round, like Clemson's Blake Miller or Alabama's Kadyn Proctor, if he's still on the board.
Georgia's Monroe Freeling is a name to watch, as Khan and Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy were on hand at his Pro Day, checking an all-important box when it comes to Pittsburgh's draft trends.
Perhaps the Steelers' front office knew about the Broderick Jones injury setback long before us, and the media is just catching up. Either way, it looks like there's a strong chance this team could be forced to pivot to an offensive tackle in Round 1 if their top options are off the board.
Add us as a preferred source on Google