Two years after drafting him, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally have Broderick Jones entrenched at left tackle, as they originally envisioned. For his first two years, he ended up stuck on the right side, partly due to Dan Moore Jr.\u2019s inability to play there. Going into Year 3, however, he has everything set in front of him. It\u2019s now on him to take advantage of the opportunity, and his teammates see the difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe seems to be more comfortable at left\u201d, C Zach Frazier said of Broderick Jones yesterday, via Pittsburgh\u2019s DSEN<\/a>. \u201cI think he played there in college. Hopefully, that feels more like home for him\u201d. He added that Jones also looks like he dropped weight, which Jones confirmed previously<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Steelers traded up in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft to select Broderick Jones out of Georgia. They knew he lacked experience when they drafted him, and that he would take time to develop. Going into Year 3, however, they need everything to start coming together\u2014and so does he.<\/p>\n While not direct about it, even Jones admitted that moving to left tackle could be a boost for him<\/a>. He did not look great last season at right tackle, but the uncertainty of never knowing for sure where he would play probably didn\u2019t help, either.<\/p>\n For what it\u2019s worth, the Steelers\u2019 defensive edge rushers are noticing Broderick Jones at left tackle, too. Earlier this week, third-year Nick Herbig, part of the same draft class, called him a \u201cnatural left tackle<\/a>\u201d. Yesterday, Alex Highsmith also shared similar sentiments, saying \u201che\u2019s definitely comfortable there<\/a>\u201d and expressed hope of him \u201ctaking a big leap and holding it down for us\u201d.<\/p>\n Of course, we\u2019re only through the first week of OTAs, which doesn\u2019t offer much on which to evaluate offensive linemen. But those who are able to attend parts of practice observe a more agile Broderick Jones. That was one of his defining traits coming out of college, and he has dropped significant weight this offseason.<\/p>\n