Broderick Jones was supposed to be the anchor. When the Steelers made him their first draft pick under general manager Omar Khan, it wasn’t just about adding talent - it was about signaling a new era for the offensive line.
A reset. A rebuild.
And for a while, it looked like Jones might be the guy to lead that charge.
Fast forward to 2026, and the picture is a little blurrier. Jones has logged three straight seasons with double-digit starts, but his grip on a long-term starting role in Pittsburgh is anything but firm. Now, the Steelers are on the clock - literally - with a key decision due by May 1: whether to pick up his fifth-year option for the 2027 season.
That option? It would keep Jones in Pittsburgh for an additional year at a projected $20.497 million price tag.
It doesn’t affect his 2026 salary, but it does shape the team’s future at left tackle. Declining it would mean Jones is set to hit free agency a year from now - unless the two sides agree to a new deal before then.
So, what’s the right call?
Let’s start with the money. That $20 million figure might sound steep, but context matters.
According to Spotrac, if Jones were making that today, he’d slot in around 18th among offensive tackles in average annual salary. And with the salary cap continuing to climb, that ranking would likely drop even further by 2027.
In other words, this isn’t top-of-the-market money - it’s more or less what you pay for a starting-caliber tackle in today’s NFL.
For reference, that number falls just under what Dan Moore Jr. - the man Jones was drafted to replace - is currently earning in Tennessee. Moore was criticized heavily during his time in Pittsburgh, but his contract reflects the going rate for a serviceable starter on the edge. If Jones is at least that, the price tag isn’t unreasonable.
But that’s the crux of the issue: Is Jones at least that?
The answer isn’t simple. He’s shown flashes - moments where you see the athleticism, the power, the potential that made him a first-round pick.
But consistency has been elusive. Part of that isn’t on him.
The Steelers haven’t exactly made life easy, bouncing him between right and left tackle and leaving him in limbo at times. And while he had the same offensive line coach for his first three seasons, the overall offensive line continuity around him has been a work in progress.
Still, 2025 was a step forward. With Aaron Rodgers under center, Pittsburgh’s offense benefited from one of the league’s fastest releases - a factor that helped mask some protection issues.
But even within that context, Jones held his own in pass protection. He wasn’t dominant, but he was solid.
The bigger concern was in the run game, where his technique remained inconsistent. Too often, he was part of the problem on plays that went nowhere.
Then came the late-season neck injury - a vague, lingering issue that ended his year prematurely and opened the door for backup Dylan Cook. And Cook?
Well, he didn’t exactly light it up, but he didn’t look out of place either. In fact, in some matchups, he looked more composed than Jones.
He struggled against Houston’s vaunted front in the playoffs, but before that, he made a legitimate case to be in the mix moving forward.
All of this puts the Steelers in a tough spot. Jones still has the traits you want in a franchise tackle - size, athleticism, upside.
But entering Year 4, he’s still more of a projection than a proven commodity. And with Cook in the fold and other young linemen potentially due for extensions soon, committing $20 million to a player who hasn’t locked down the job feels like a gamble.
The safer play? Let the 2026 season play out.
Give Jones a chance to win the job outright in camp - and maybe even let him and Cook battle it out. If Jones breaks out, great.
You deal with the contract situation then. If not, you’ve avoided a hefty financial commitment and maintained flexibility.
Declining the fifth-year option doesn’t mean the Steelers are giving up on Jones. Far from it.
It just means they’re not ready to bet big on potential alone. And with how crucial 2026 is shaping up to be - for Jones, for the offensive line, and for the franchise as a whole - that feels like the right call.