When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded up in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft to select Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones 14th overall, they thought they were getting a key piece to their offensive line for the foreseeable future. While Jones may still be just that, the future seems murky, especially after the neck injury he suffered against the Chicago Bears in November last season.
When Khan was asked about Jones and his availability for training camp, the general manager did not provide
a particularly positive update.
“He had a significant injury, and we’re monitoring how he progresses. I know he’s working hard.” Khan said via Mike DeFabo. “It’s still early in the process, but that’s certainly something that we’re monitoring.”
The injury was significant enough to sideline Jones for the rest of the season, and now it seems that this injury could sideline Jones for even longer. Dylan Cook filled in nicely for the Steelers down the stretch, but with Jones being sidelined for the beginning of next season’s practices, it makes it all the more likely that the Steelers will invest in a cheap depth piece at the position in free agency or with one of their 12 draft picks.
Pittsburgh has an important decision to make on Jones in the coming months. The deadline to place the fifth-year option on 2023 first-rounders is May 1st. Should Jones be tagged, Spotrac has the estimated value of the one-year extension at just over $20 million.
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