Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones during a game against the New York Jets on Sept. 7, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have invested heavily into their offensive line over the last couple of years. However, former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex doesn’t think that necessarily guarantees any of their high draft picks a starting job in 2026.
In fact, Essex thinks former first-round offensive tackle Broderick Jones is already on the outside looking in.
“Dylan Cook is the starter going into camp,” Essex said on Pittsburgh’s 93.7 The Fan. “And it is incumbent upon Broderick to show the coaches that he has worked in the offseason, that he’s fully recovered from this injury, and that this is a contract year.”
Pittsburgh selected Jones with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but he has disappointed through his first three seasons in the league and it took a turn for the worse this year when he suffered a season-ending neck injury.
Cook, an undrafted free agent out of the 2022 NFL Draft, was called upon in Jones’ absence, and he played quite well, allowing just one sack on 291 offensive snaps played, according to Pro Football Focus.
The 28-year-old also held Cleveland Browns defensive end and Defensive Player of the Year-favorite Myles Garrett, who was just one sack away from the NFL single season record at the time, to just one tackle, one quarterback hit and zero sacks in Week 17.
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dylan Cook in a game against the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 4, 2026 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
That is why Essex believes Cook should be the unofficial starter and Broderick must prove himself worthy of taking his starting job back.
“It’s a make-or-break year for Broderick, not only for his career in Pittsburgh, but his career as a starter in general, because if he doesn’t win this job here, I think he has a career as a swing tackle,” Essex continued. “Him being a starter might not happen if he doesn’t win this year. So this is a super important year for him, but I think you definitely go with Dylan Cook as a starter with the way that he ended the year and see if Broderick can supplant him.”
Only time will tell if that’s how the Steelers view their left tackle situation, but it’s safe to say it will be one of the more interesting position battles to watch this offseason.
Mentioned In This Article: Broderick Jones Dylan Cook Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers Trai Essex