During an appearance on the All Things Covered podcast with former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerbacks Bryant McFadden and Patrick Peterson Wednesday, NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger raved about Steelers rookie offensive tackle Broderick Jones. He thinks the former Georgia Bulldog is going to be a star in the league.
“I the (the Steelers) are going to draft a center either in the first or second round. They need a center, they went heavy on trying to upgrade the offensive line last year,” Baldinger said. “Broderick Jones is going to be a star in this league. I don’t even know if he’s 22 yet, but he can flat-out play.”
Jones is 22, he turns 23 on May 16. But the point still stands, the upside with Jones is astronomical. Jones entered the starting lineup at right tackle in Week 9, and he fared pretty well in his rookie campaign. He still needs to improve in pass protection, but he’s already a dominating run blocker. Just watch the Seattle game when the Steelers rushed for 202 yards. Jones was moving defensive lineman off the ball and punishing linebackers.
General manager Omar Khan said at the NFL Combine that the Steelers will move Jones back to left tackle at some point. Jones started last season at left tackle but moved to right tackle after the team benched Chuks Okorafor.
Khan made it clear that Jones was drafted to be a left tackle, and while he did not commit to making him a left tackle to start next season, he will move there eventually.
“I’ve said this before, but versatility on the offensive line is important. He proved he could play right tackle last year but he was drafted to be a left tackle. And eventually, he will be a left tackle. When that is, time will tell, but he was drafted to be a left tackle,” Khan said.
A 6-foot-5, 311-pound Lithonia, Georgia native, the Steelers traded up three spots in the first round to get Jones, sending the 140th pick to the New England Patriots in compensation. Jones was a two-year starter at Georgia, playing right tackle his freshman year before moving to the left. He started his Steelers career behind Moore at left tackle before getting his opportunity on the right side in practice.
Now, it appears that Broderick Jones is moving back to his natural spot at some point. There are several top right tackles in this class, including Taliese Fuaga, JC Latham, Amarius Mims, and Tyler Guyton. All those guys could slot into that role for the team, while Jones will likely shift back over. Jones has long said that he can play anywhere, and even has comfort on both sides, but given his natural spot is left tackle, that is where he should be playing.
As Baldinger mentioned, Jones has the potential to be a bona fide star in the NFL. Look for Jones to make a massive leap in Year 2.
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