The Pittsburgh Steelers are shipping offensive tackle Broderick Jones off to the Dallas Cowboys, making a massive move right before the final season of his expiring rookie contract. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler broke the news on Saturday, and it’s a huge shift for a guy who was just the No. 14 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Waves Goodbye to a Top Pick
What a wild turn for Jones in Pittsburgh. He played three seasons with the Steelers, racking up 45 games and 38 starts, including 11 starts in 2025. But that 2025 season got cut short when he was shut down with a neck injury. Then came the red flags: the Steelers declined his fifth-year option this past spring. It all started with Schefter reporting a “setback” in April regarding his neck recovery. Jones basically missed the whole offseason. He got cleared for training camp, sure, but his preseason struggles were real, giving up two sacks against the New York Jets on August 21. Pittsburgh clearly moved on mentally when they shifted Troy Fautanu to left tackle earlier this offseason, basically taking Jones’ starting spot. And then drafting Max Iheanachor, a right tackle, in the first round of the 2026 draft? That was the writing on the wall, plain as day.
Dallas Takes a Chance Amidst Roster Shuffle
So, what are the Cowboys thinking here? Jones arrives in Dallas with a chance, but it’s not a slam dunk. They’ve got Tyler Guyton seemingly locked in at left tackle, so Jones might be competing with Terence Steele for that right tackle spot. This trade also comes on a busy day for Dallas, as they released wide receiver Denzel Mims, reported by Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. Plus, the Cowboys are dealing with some injury drama: coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed Friday that outside linebacker Marist Liufau suffered a fractured forearm requiring surgery. If Liufau misses at least the first four games, the Cowboys could use one of their two IR spots for him. It’s a lot for Dallas to sort out.
The NFL roster cutdown deadline is Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. The Cowboys have to figure out where Jones fits into their tackle depth chart fast, because they open the season on September 13 against the New York Giants. This trade, combined with the other roster moves, means Dallas is scrambling to finalize its lineup and shore up the trenches before the regular season kicks off. It’s go time, and the pressure is on!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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