The Pittsburgh Steelers traded up in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft to get their starting left tackle. Not in 2024 but this season. The Steelers hope they accomplished their task when they went up for former Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones.
Tomlin spoke to the media after the pick and gave the fans encouragement that Jones has huge potential but is not a project player. “He’s got big-time upside, but I also say he’s a really good player right now,” Tomlin said. “The upside is tremendous. He’s a diaper dandy.”
In terms of what the Steelers need in a left tackle, Jones was second only to Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. in checking all the boxes. The Steelers gave Dan Moore Jr. two years to earn and keep the starting left tackle spot but after some serious stalled growth last season, Pittsburgh made finding his replacement a top draft priority.
