Joey Porter Jr. has had a massive impact for the Dallas Cowboys since his acquisition last month. George Pickens has had a similarly impactful impression on the Cowboys since his addition last year. Even the rotational linebacker Dee Winters has managed to make his mark on the field, for better or for worse, when health has allowed.
For all the impactful trade additions Dallas has made over the last year, one addition has largely remained silent since his acquisition in late August. He’s an offensive player who had worn out his welcome at his previous spot and he’s a player whose best days are hopefully in front of him. The player is offensive tackle, Broderick Jones.
Jones, a player many considered to be overdrafted, was a former top 15 selection
in the 2023 NFL draft. After getting thrown to fire as a rookie right tackle, Jones bounced between left tackle and right tackle on the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line over the course of three seasons. Expendable in 2026, the 25-year-old Jones came to the Cowboys as insurance in case the struggling Terence Steele couldn’t improve on his highly problematic summer.
Through the first portion of the 2026 season, Jones hasn’t been displace Steele in the starting lineup but he has been able to forge out a growing role as an extra lineman. With the tight end group largely struggling, the Cowboys have been leaning on their reserve lineman to chip in on certain short yardage packages. It’s given Jones an opportunity to contribute this year and it’s given the Cowboys a promising strategy in high leverage situations.
Broderick Jones played just 9 snaps (all runs), but he helped spring some good runs, including a key 4th down conversion.
— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) October 27, 2026
It was a good game for all the former Pittsburgh trade guys. pic.twitter.com/RrbqUYQmkB
Fielding an extra lineman is the football equivalent of tipping one’s hand in poker. It gives opponents a pretty good idea of what you’re planning, making anything less than perfect execution a problem for the offense. And while it hasn’t been exactly perfect with Jones on the field as an extra blocker, the execution has been pretty darn solid and extremely successful.
Through the first six weeks of the season, Jones was used as a sixth lineman three times. On those plays the Cowboys were successful 66.7 percent of the time, producing an EPA/play of +0.275. In Week 7, the Cowboys used Jones as an extra lineman nine more times maintaining their 66.7 percent success rate and improving their EPA/play to a staggering +0.547.
Using Broderick Jones as an extra OL has been wildly successful for the Cowboys. (Graphic credit: @csv_enjoyer ) pic.twitter.com/zLVb1t8ysM
— Reid D Hanson (@ReidDHanson) October 29, 2026
For perspective, Dallas’ normal success rate this season is 48 percent and their regular EPA/play this season, which is fifth in the NFL, sits at +0.109. It’s fair to say Jones’ presence has added significant value to an already strong offense.
Being dominant when the opposing defense essentially knows what the offense is planning, is not an easy feat, yet that’s where the Cowboys are right now. Against defenses that live in nickel and dime looks, this can be a very deadly weapon moving forward.
The Arizona Cardinals, the Cowboys’ Week 8 opponent, plays a whopping 50 percent of their snaps in base defense so they’re likely to match big personnel with big personnel. The Indianapolis Colts, Dallas’ Week 9 opponent, plays 33 percent of their snaps in base, so while they aren’t as base-happy as the Cardinals, they’re still likely to match as well. The San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys’ Week 10 opponent, plays 41 percent of their snaps in base, and rightfully so, because their base defense is more effective than their nickel, holding opponents to -0.10 EPA/play.
The Cowboys and Jones have some nice tests ahead for them if they want to continue their six offensive linemen ways. The next three opponents are more than capable of matching up so if Dallas can find success against them with Jones, they can find success against anyone.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys' recent offensive trade addition has a growing role and impact
