The Pittsburgh Steelers made a strategic move during the 2023 NFL Draft by trading up to select offensive tackle Broderick Jones, aiming to bolster their offensive line. In the 2024 NFL Draft, the team stayed put at the 20th spot and was fortunate to have premier offensive tackle Troy Fautanu fall to them. This selection was widely praised by pundits as a steal.
Steelers' Broderick Jones takes a photo with Omar Khan, Art Rooney II and Mike Tomlin.
It's not entirely clear which side Fautanu will play on, as he played left tackle in college. It seems likely that Jones will jump over to the left side when Fautanu is ready to take the other tackle spot from Dan Moore Jr. It's uncertain if Fautanu will be a day-one starter. Despite his talent, the Steelers might follow the same approach as they did with Jones in 2023, giving Fautanu a few games to transition into the starting lineup.
Regardless, the Steelers' offensive line is young and full of potential. This has led Jones to feel a sense of responsibility to step up as a leader in just his second season in the NFL. Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette spoke with Jones about why he feels the need to take on a leadership role so early in his career.
“Coming in and knowing how it is, you have so much coming at you at once. I try to take the edge off them. I let them know it’s not all going to be peaches and cream. You’re going to get beat. You’re going to lose. You just have to be able to adjust.”
Jones, having been a rookie just a season ago, understands firsthand the pressure of being a first-round pick expected to become a star immediately. He knows the challenges of transitioning from a college standout to an NFL standout. Jones believes he has a solid grasp on how to make this transition as smooth as possible for himself and his teammates.
“There are a lot of different things you have to learn once you get to the next level. You have to take your time with it. You can’t try to rush through it. You have to focus on one thing, lock in with it and make it one of your biggest assets. You can’t go from one thing and then try to jump to the next thing when you didn’t even figure out the first thing. For them, they have to figure out one thing at a time. I tell them not to rush it because that’s what I did last year. I was trying to rush things, always trying to hurry up and get through stuff. Me talking to them, I hope it helps. Hopefully, they can learn from it.”
Fautanu has been candid about the challenges of transitioning to the NFL. Having a player like Jones, who was in the same position just a year ago, is a significant advantage for the Steelers' young offensive line.
“It’s a different atmosphere,” Jones said of the NFL. “The players are different. They have so many different moves. They’re so quick and fast. You have to be able to fine-tune your sills on both sides. From left to right is difficult. It took me a couple of weeks to get it right.”
The Steelers focused on bolstering their offensive line in the 2024 draft. In addition to the significant addition of Fautanu, the team selected center Zach Frazier, who will also face the challenging transition to the NFL. In the fourth round, the franchise added guard Mason McCormick.
Steelers' Offensive Line Is Set Up For Years Of Success
The Steelers' offensive line is positioned for long-term success. While fans are excited about these new additions, the full benefits of these picks may not be realized for a couple of seasons. Here's a site where you can bet on the future of the team: https://pickdawgz.com/nfl-picks/.
Karl Rosser / Steelers
Steelers' Troy Fautanu working on a drill with Zach Frazier during OTAs.
Jones stepping up as a leader aims to expedite their adjustment to the league. The Steelers' offensive line will be a unit to watch in the coming years.
