The Dallas Cowboys just pulled a massive move right before the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline, shipping a third and sixth-round pick to Pittsburgh. What did they get back? None other than former first-round pick Broderick Jones, a right tackle, plus a Steelers’ fourth-rounder. This isn’t just about adding depth, folks. This trade signals a direct challenge to incumbent right tackle Terence Steele, and his starting spot is looking seriously vulnerable.
Shaking Up the Right Side
This isn’t some last-minute, low-stakes roster shuffle. The Cowboys were clearly hinting at a trade after their preseason finale and didn’t make any releases on Saturday. Now we know why. Jones brings a lot of experience, having started 27 of the 28 games he’s appeared in over the last two years. Plus, according to Steelers Wire, he even outplayed this year’s first-round pick, Max Iheanachor, through training camp and the preseason. That’s a statement, and Dallas grabbed him.
The Steele Situation
Cowboys coaches have been pretty vocal about wanting more from Steele, who surprised everyone as a UDFA rookie out of Texas Tech. He’s been a starter, playing all 51 regular season games over the past three seasons, and started 13 games each of the prior two. Steele is a strong run blocker, no doubt. But his pass protection? Always needed work. The wild card here is Jones isn’t exactly a pass-blocking guru himself, posting Pro Football Focus grades of 52.1, 54.6, and 59.0 consecutively. The good news is that upward trajectory. Dallas is clearly betting Klayton Adams and Connor Riley can unlock that first-round potential, especially after Jones suffered a neck injury last year, which led Pittsburgh to draft Iheanachor at No. 21 overall this past April.
So, what’s next? Watch the Cowboys’ right tackle position like a hawk. This isn’t just a competition brewing; it’s a full-on battle for a starting job right out of the gate for the Cowboys as the regular season kicks off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply