The Pittsburgh Steelers have greatly stressed the significance and importance of rebuilding the offensive line over the past two seasons. Omar Khan has two drafts under his belt with the team since being hired as the franchise's general manager in the summer of 2022. With the 14 draft picks since 2023, five of those picks were spent on offensive linemen. Khan also spent both of his first round picks on Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu, who he hopes can turn into the franchise's long-term solutions at the tackle spots.
Once Jones was finally given a chance with the starting lineup in 2023, he took off as one of the team's best run blockers. Jones' impressive rookie season led many to believe that he would have a strong career and could be the Steelers' future on the outside of the offensive line. Unfortunately, Jones appeared to have taken a step backwards and may have regressed during 2024. According to Pro Football Focus, Jones allowed 10 sacks and was faulted for 10 penalties this season, which ranks among some of the worst tackles in the NFL.
Jones' serious struggles were one of the many reasons why Pittsburgh's front group didn't improve from 2023 to 2024 as much as anticipated, which hurt the offense greatly in the long run. Ray Fittipaldo, a Steelers insider with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, recently spoke about the current state of the offensive line that Khan has assembled. Fittipaldo offers some insight as to how Jones could get back on the right track after the Steelers selected him with the 14th overall pick in 2023.
"I think [Broderick Jones'] technique is also lacking as well," explained Fittipaldo. "I think sometimes for guys who are so called those trait-players coming out of college, that elite size, elite athleticism -- sometimes at the college level you can get away with bad technique. You don't really have to be a technician. But when you get to the NFL and you're playing the best players, you're playing edge rushers who are every bit of the athlete you are, sometimes better; your technique and fundamentals get exposed if they're somewhat lacking."
Jones entered the 2023 NFL Draft as one of the best tackles coming out of the University of Georgia, who Khan and the Steelers actually traded up to grab. The level of talent that Jones possesses has never been in question, but there's a reason as to why he looked lost in his second season.
"Now, we can sit here and we can say that the Steelers haven't done a good enough job coaching him up, that might be true. But at some point, you have to take that on your own shoulders and you have to want to be that great player and I think that's where Broderick is right now."
A large dose of the fan base isn't pleased with the Steelers deciding to retain Pat Meyer, the offensive line coach, for the final year of his contract. Pittsburgh's front five has struggled mightily for many years now, and that could potentially be at the fault of Meyer. If that is the true case, then Jones and the others likely won't improve very much in 2025.
Jones has a boatload of talent, and there's a high possibility that he and Fautanu can be the team's tackles for a long time. However, if Jones is unable to overcome whatever it is that is holding him back, then the Steelers will have to move on quickly. Khan has done his part by collecting a solid group of linemen, but it's up to the players and coaches to make an impact on the field.
Young Steelers Tackles Don't Have Much To Look Up To
While the newly added guards like Mason McCormick have been given the opportunity to learn from veterans Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels, Jones and Fautanu have been tailing behind Dan Moore Jr. Moore's first few seasons with the Steelers weren't great, but he had a solid start to the 2024 season and looked to be well ahead of Jones. Moore's success at left tackle was short-lived, although, and his time with the organization is likely over as he is heading into free agency. Aside from Jones and Fautanu, the only tackles with pro experience on the active roster are Moore and Calvin Anderson. Essentially, Pittsburgh's young tackles don't have any proven veterans to guide them in their early seasons, while the capabilities of the coaching staff are also in question.
