Broderick Jones, the 2023 first-round draft pick, is officially headed to the Dallas Cowboys from the Pittsburgh Steelers. This blockbuster move, confirmed by a person with knowledge of the deal on Saturday, comes just one day before NFL teams have to slash their rosters down to the final 53 players. It’s an absolute bombshell, shaking up both rosters right at the deadline. The Steelers are sending Jones and their 2027 fourth-round pick to Dallas. In return, the Cowboys are dishing out their 2027 third- and sixth-round picks.
The Price of Potential: Jones’s Roller Coaster Ride
This is a high-stakes play, no doubt about it. Jones was the 14th overall pick out of Georgia in the 2023 draft, a player once touted as a foundational piece. He played in 45 games during his three seasons with the Steelers, starting a solid 38 of them. But here’s the kicker, the part that’s got everyone raising an eyebrow: Jones missed the final six games last year. He suffered an awkward hit to his neck on November 23 against Chicago, landing him on injured reserve and requiring season-ending fusion surgery. That’s a brutal injury, folks, demanding lengthy rehab. When the Steelers declined his fifth-year option and then drafted Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor 21st overall in this year’s draft, they weren’t exactly subtle about their intentions. They basically screamed from the rooftops that they were ready to move on.
Dallas’s Desperate Play for Protection
So, why are the Cowboys making this move, especially with Jones’s recent injury history? It’s simple: they’re in full-blown panic mode over their offensive tackle situation. All training camp, they’ve had nagging questions haunting that O-line. They need Terence Steele, who’s entering his seventh season, to somehow find the dominant form he showed earlier in his career. And then there’s Tyler Guyton, heading into his third season, who needs to develop into the player they expected. The fact that the Cowboys are trading for Jones, especially after his serious neck surgery and rehab, tells you everything you need to know about their level of concern. None of their other tackle options stood out in camp or during preseason games, leaving their depth looking like a massive hole.
This trade is Dallas trying to plug a huge leak on their offensive line. Will Jones be the answer, or is this a gamble that could blow up in their face? All eyes will be on the Cowboys’ tackle position as they finalize their roster.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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