Former Steelers LB Arthur Moats Thinks Drafting LT In 1st Round Would Absolutely Hinder Broderick Jones

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a big investment in the 2023 NFL Draft by moving up from pick number 17 to pick 14 via trade with the New England Patriots to snag University of Georgia tackle, Broderick Jones. He spent most of the 2023 season as a right tackle, but General Manager Omar Khan made it clear at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine that the team intends to get him over to the left side. Former Steelers linebacker, Arthur Moats thinks those comments mean that if Pittsburgh targets a tackle in the first round, it won't be on the left side.

Moats played for the Steelers from 2014- 2017 before retiring and jumping into the media side of the business. On a recent episode of his podcast, The Arthur Moats Experience With Deke, while digging into questions about the Steelers' draft needs, he shared why he believes the team won't take a left tackle again in 2024. 

"It doesn't make a lot of sense," Moats said of taking a first-round left tackle. "Because Omar [Khan] said that they want to get him [Jones] to the left side. That's the reason why I don't think they will go out and draft another left tackle in the first round that would ultimately hinder Broderick from getting back over there."

During the discussion, Moats drew a comparison between the Detroit Lions' strategy for managing their tackle position and a similar approach in Pittsburgh. In 2021, the Lions drafted Penei Sewell from Oregon with the seventh overall pick, even though they already had a cornerstone left tackle in Taylor Decker. According to Moats, the Lions were aware that Sewell would have to play on the right side due to Decker's position, but they chose to draft him as insurance if they wanted to move on from the veteran at the end of his contract.

It's not a perfect comparison Moats said because Pittsburgh had Dan Moore Jr., who the team has consistently looked to replace. He thinks that the team looked at picking Jones in the first round in 2023 as their upgrade on Moore at left tackle. So, it wouldn't make much sense to upgrade the same position in consecutive drafts. 

Pittsburgh needs to find another starting tackle in the 2024 draft. If the plan is to have Jones fill the left tackle spot for the 2024 season, it leaves them without a right tackle. Chukwuma Okorafor started the 2023 season as the team's starter on the right side, but was benched and lost his job to Jones. He was later released early in the offseason. Moore isn't against moving to the right side, but Head Coach Mike Tomlin said during the 2023 season that Moore is "significantly better" on the left.

Steelers Likely To Go With An Offensive Lineman In Round 1

Pittsburgh will likely have some options at tackle available in the first round, as it is generally regarded as a deep class. The question will be if the team believes that the player can be the bookend opposite Jones. Georgia's Amarius Mims has been a trendy pick to reunite with several college teammates on the Steelers roster, including Jones. There have been questions about his readiness to step in at the NFL level due to a limited college resume.

Pittsburgh's other offensive line position to consider in the first round is center. The team doesn't have a starter on the roster after releasing Mason Cole. Not many centers tend to go in the first round, but if the team can find their leader in the middle for the next decade, it's hard to argue that would be a waste. 

Without some draft day trades, it's hard to imagine that Pittsburgh can get both a top tackle prospect and a top center. Khan may have more up his sleeve because Pittsburgh needs help at both positions. 

Do you agree with Moats that the team won't take a first-round left tackle? What do you think is the bigger need; tackle or center?