Persistent neck injuries and the arrival of rookie Max Iheanachor have pushed Broderick Jones toward the exit as the Pittsburgh Steelers prioritize pass protection over their former first-round investment.
There will always be some mystery about what the Pittsburgh Steelers would have done with the offensive line if the Philadelphia Eagles hadn't traded up to select wide receiver Makai Lemon in the first round.
The Steelers, who had been on the phone with Lemon, had to backtrack and rethink their strategy. Pittsburgh took Arizona State offensive lineman Max Iheanachor, giving the offense another starting-caliber offensive tackle.
The pick appears to have signaled the end of Broderick Jones' time in Pittsburgh.
Jones suffered a season-ending neck injury that required surgery in 2025. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, he suffered a setback before the draft in April.
Following the draft, the Steelers chose not to pick up the fifth-year option for the 2023 first-round pick.
Ben Solak of ESPN believes Jones is on the hot seat in 2026. He's struggled with passing protection during the bulk of his career.
"It's not hard to read the writing on the wall here," Solak wrote. "Jones' play was already shaky enough that an early pick on a developmental tackle would have been more than justified. His 85.0% pass block win rate was 65th of 68 qualified tackles last season.
"But now that his long-term health is in question, the Steelers urgently needed a succession plan. Assuming Jones' neck injury remains a factor, Iheanachor will likely get first-team reps in training camp and accordingly an inside track to start in Week 1. If he holds his water, it would be surprising to see Jones get back on the field as the starter once he finally returns to health."
New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy believes Iheanachor is the fitter. He pointed out that he's built to play for Pittsburgh, and is solid in pass protection.
“He’s definitely built for this," McCarthy said. "You look at his background, his soccer background, you could see it, just with his versatility.
"Both in pass pro, and run blocking. When he gets his hands on you, he sticks. And he does a really good job of reacting to second and third reactions. So, I think he has a very, very bright future. We’re really excited to have him.”
The Steelers should keep Jones through the season, allowing the offense to have one of the better swing tackles in the league in 2026. After that, Jones is more than likely headed to free agency.