The Pittsburgh Steelers have invested heavily into their offensive line the past two NFL Drafts. In 2023 it was Broderick Jones as the team’s top draft pick, one which they traded up to select. In 2024 it was a trio of offensive linemen, Troy Fautanu in Round 1, Zach Frazier in Round 2, and Mason McCormick in Round 4, who were called upon to help bolster the line for years to come. What many didn’t see coming was the newest rookies making such a positive impact/impression in their rookie seasons.

How impressive was the team’s top draft pick’s performance this training camp?

Try the fact despite an MCL injury which will have Fautanu out of the rest of the preseason, the team plans on starting him at right tackle. This per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Steelers not waiting any longer: Troy Fautanu will be the starting RT https://t.co/vYW0EbPJNf

— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) August 12, 2024

Here is what Dulac writes about the team’s reported decision to turn to Fautanu, even though he’ll miss the last two preseason games with his knee injury.

“After three weeks of training camp and just one preseason game, they are ready to hand the starting right tackle job over to their No. 1 draft choice. They planned to start him in Saturday night’s preseason game against the Buffalo Bills and leave him there for the start of the regular season until he injured his knee Friday night against the Houston Texans.”

If you are like me, you read the above and thought, “What does that mean for Broderick Jones?” Jones has been playing right tackle, but also switching to left tackle on occasion to get valuable repetitions at the position he played when he was a Georgia Bulldog. But, if you guessed a competition between Jones and Dan Moore Jr. is what will happen, you’d be correct.

This per Dulac:

“That will leave Broderick Jones, last year’s No. 1 pick, to battle incumbent Dan Moore Jr. for the starting left tackle position.”

At this point, you’d have to wonder what it says about Jones if he is unable to beat out Moore for the job at left tackle once Fautanu returns to the lineup? According to Dulac, Jones will remain at right tackle for the time being, which only muddies the waters in this situation.

“For now, though, Jones will remain at right tackle until Fautanu returns. Fautanu will miss the final two preseason games, but with two weeks in between until the start of the regular season, he is expected to be ready for Sept. 8 in Atlanta.” said Dulac.

Since Broderick Jones was drafted, the Steelers have been using Jones as a swing tackle. Drafted to be the left tackle, but playing on the right side based on the fact Moore is unable to move from one side of the line to another. While the Steelers have plans for Jones at left tackle, has he been given the amount of repetitions and practice at the position to allow him to flourish? Fans need to remember what was said about Jones when he left Georgia. He was inexperienced, raw, and needed work to develop into a dominant left tackle in the NFL.

Has he received that experienced and work to develop into what the Steelers hope he can be for the long term?

The fact remains the Steelers have seemingly jerked Jones around from right to left, and left to right, since he was drafted. If they plan on Jones being the left tackle when Fautanu returns, these final two preseason game should have Jones playing a lot of left tackle to get him acclimated to the job he will anchor when the real games begin in September.

Let’s make something clear, this isn’t suggesting Jones isn’t capable of making the switch, but allowing him the time and experience to make the switch as seamless as possible. If Jones is able to do this without any hiccups it would speak volumes to his overall abilities and athleticism. In the meantime, it would be smart for the Steelers to give him as much experience on the left side of the line as possible before Week 1 of the regular season.

If Jones can’t beat out Moore at left tackle, and becomes the impromptu swing tackle…well, let’s just hope that’s a bridge we don’t have to cross. If Jones isn’t viewed as “ready” for the job at left tackle, a large portion of the blame should fall on the Steelers coaching staff for their handling of him since he was drafted in 2023.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 of the NFL Preseason.