The Pittsburgh Steelers spent a lot of draft capital building up their offensive line over the past few seasons. They had once been among the best in the league, but as those great players retired, they increasingly struggled to protect whoever was under center. They selected offensive tackle Broderick Jones in the first-round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has been known to allow players to ease into a starting role when they are rookies. This was the case with Jones, who was meant to learn behind veterans in 2023. He ultimately benefited from the benching of Chukwuma Okorafor. He got his shot at starting, but found himself on the opposite side of the line from what he prefers. His performance steadily improved last season, so there were big expectations for him in 2024. Unfortunately, Jones had a rocky season, making fans wonder if he is already a bust.
The entire line was riddled with injuries this season, some short and some season-ending, like the ones to Troy Fautanu and James Daniels. The expectation was that Jones would take another step forward this season. He was familiar with that side of the line from last season and was more adjusted to the intensity of the NFL. However, he struggled out of the gates. Enough so to be benched for racking up back-to-back penalties, and Fautanu replaced him until he got hurt.
Ray Fittipaldo from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette joined The Pomp and Joe Show on 93.7 The Fan and was asked if he thinks the starting offensive line, from right to left in 2025, will be Fautanu, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Isaac Seumalo and Jones. He told show host Joe Starkey he thinks that's precisely what it will be, and he is cautiously optimistic they will improve, particularly if they can stay injury-free. He was not as hopeful when asked if he believes Jones will have a great career in the league.
"He's not gonna have a great career," predicts Fittipaldo. "We just gotta hope he grows up, he develops, matures, whatever word you want to use. I'll say decent. I don't think he's going to play well."
Pittsburgh's offensive line struggled in every area. Pro Football Network ranked them 24th overall and graded them a D. Their pass blocked was 29th in the NFL, and it didn't matter what defense was thrown at them; they couldn't stop them even though they had the ninth-longest throwing time of the season. The run blocking wasn't better, which is a massive issue for a team that wants to define itself as a ground-and-pound offense.
The Steelers have question marks at quarterback for 2025. It is unclear whether Russell Wilson or Justin Fields will return, or if they will find someplace new. However, the offensive line has created consistent issues for every quarterback the team has started in recent years. While Fields was better able to escape the pocket, they were all running for their lives a lot.
The Time Is Now For Steelers' Zach Frazier
The lack of leadership is one of the most significant issues with the Steelers' offense. While Wilson did provide it in a way that has been missing since Ben Roethlisberger retired, the offensive line needs someone to step up.
According to Roethlisberger, that person should be Frazier. He said he believes the young player out of West Virginia has what it takes to be the next great Steelers center. He knows good centers, having played with Maurkice Pouncey for many years.
Frazier was initially meant to grow into the role, but got thrust into it when Nate Herbig was injured in preseason. He didn't seem to miss a beat, and despite some rookie errors, he was widely considered the most reliable member of the line, winning the Joe Greene Great Performance Award for his efforts.
What kind of career do you think Jones will have? Tell us what you think below!
