PITTSBURGH — The Steelers expect big things out of their first-round pick, Broderick Jones, after trading up for him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. So far, the takeaways are inconclusive given the fact that they are not in pads, but from preliminary looks at Jones, his teammates are rather impressed.
Dan Moore Jr. is in direct competition with Broderick Jones for the starting left tackle spot before the season. However, it has not been lost on Moore just how impressive Jones is not only as a player, but a person. He instantly stood out to Moore the moment he took the field for the first time together.
“He’s a smart kid, insane athlete,” Moore said. “There’s crazy ability within that kid. He’s going to be something special. I’m excited to keep watching him grow.”
That’s not the only lineman that Jones has caught the eye of, however. Isaac Seumalo, who is starting to play next to Jones a bit more as Jones works into some of the first-team opportunities, sees a lot of potential in him. It is only his first month with the team overall, and Seumalo has seen a lot of good offensive linemen, but Jones immediately stands out.
“Broderick has got all of the tools and athleticism in the world,” Seumalo said. But obviously, offensive line is one of those things that takes time and experience. There are very rare guys that can come in and play right away. I think Broderick possesses those tools. Being able to know when to use each tool is the hard part of offensive line. He’s definitely an aggressive guy. He’s got all the tools.”
Those two veterans see a lot in Jones. If he can show significant consistency throughout his preseason games and training camp practices, he could earn the starting job right out of the gate. Regardless, the team sees Jones as the future at the position and that will clearly be his spot in the future of this team.