With the NFL season set to begin this Thursday, it’s the final chance for media outlets to get out their season previews. ESPN’s Benjamin Solak made one such list, naming an X-Factor player for each team, i.e., the players who will make the biggest impact on their teams, whether it be positive or negative. It should be noted quarterbacks, rookies, and coaches were excluded from his list. For Pittsburgh, Solak’s was left tackle Broderick Jones.
The Pittsburgh Steelers traded up to select Jones in the
2023 NFL Draft. In college, Jones was a left tackle at Georgia and was a key part of their national championship victories in 2021 and 2022. Fast forward two years, and Jones is building off a strong preseason and finally getting his first shot at playing his traditional position in the NFL.
Jones was shifted to right tackle for his first two seasons in the NFL, and adjusting to the position has not come easily for him. Over the first two years of his career, Jones has posted an overall PFF grade of 58.5. While it will be Jones’s first professional season at his traditional position, this season is incredibly important for Jones and his future with the team.
“The film at right tackle was at times thrilling — he is a physically gifted player with dominant flashes in the running game — but often infuriating, filled with mental lapses and poor penalties.” Solak wrote. “Jones now flips to the left side to replace Moore, and a substantial leap in his pass protection is needed so Rodgers can deliver the final gasp of elite play the Steelers are hoping to draw from him.”
Jones is aware of the importance he holds to Pittsburgh’s success this season. Pittsburgh’s offensive line was very up and down last year, much like the rest of the offense. However, with plenty of new faces on the offensive side of the ball, things could take a turn for the better this season.
“Protect Aaron Rodgers and run the football,” Jones told the media on Monday. “We are going to uphold that standard.”
The Steelers as a team averaged 4.1 yards per carry last season, ranking them in the bottom half of the league, and gave up the ninth most sacks in the league with 49. While Jones is one of the most important players on Pittsburgh’s roster this season, the offensive line as a whole will look to be a more cohesive unit in 2025 and support their new captain at quarterback.
