Steelers Rookie Broderick Jones Gets First-Hand Look At What It Is Like Being Traded

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie offensive tackle, Broderick Jones has had a lot of adjusting to do over the last four months since he was drafted in the first-round of the 2023 NFL Draft. There are a lot of differences between the game at the college level and the game at the professional level. Jones got to get a first-hand look at how the NFL is a business when his locker-mate and friend Kevin Dotson was traded to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. 

Jones and Dotson had become friends since they were in fact locker-mates at the Steelers' facility. The two were hanging out with some other players along the offensive line after a team building activity on Sunday when Dotson got the call that he will be moving to Los Angeles to play with the Rams. Amanda Godsey posted the media scrum in which Jones was asked about what it felt like seeing Dotson get traded. 

"Man, I was actually with him when he got traded. So that was crazy. He knew it was coming, it was just another opportunity that presented itself for him. At the end of the day, it is a business and I wish him the best of luck." 

This could be surprising for a rookie, seeing a friend and someone he sees in his position room daily get traded. There isn't anything similar to this in the college football world, unless a player transfers, but that is a longer process than making a deal with another organization to trade a player. Dotson was slated to be a back-up for the Steelers this season, and now he will help out the Rams who desperately needed some depth along their offensive line. 

Steelers Trade Dotson To Rams

Dotson was drafted by the Steelers in the fourth-round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Dotson started games at both guard positions for the Steelers, getting his first start in 2020 and then being named the starting left guard prior to the 2021 NFL season. He was only able to start nine games in 2021 because he eventually suffered an ankle injury. He started all 17 games for the Steelers in 2022 at left guard, but after the Steelers signed former Philadelphia Eagles left guard Isaac Seumalo, it was assumed Dotson would be fighting for a roster spot and would eventually be traded. 

During the 2023 offseason, Dotson made an appearance on SteelerNation's own Three Point Stance podcast hosted by Kaleb Everhart and former Steelers offensive lineman, Dee Gray. During this episode, Dotson made a few controversial comments in the eyes of Steelers fans, including saying Jones would not be able to earn the starting job at left-tackle and saying that he would be open to being traded away from Pittsburgh. 

Well, little did he know that just a few months later, the organization would be parting ways with him. General Manager Omar Khan made a smart move. He knew he was planning on possibly waiving Dotson at the final roster cuts, and decided to try and get the most out of it that he could through a trade. The final trade came out to the Steelers moving up in both the 2024 and 2025 NFL Drafts. 

The Steelers gave the Rams their 2024 fifth-round pick, and received the Rams' 2024 fourth-round pick. Moving up an entire round. The Steelers also gave the Rams their 2025 sixth-round pick, and received a 2025 fifth-round pick from the Rams, again moving up a round. All for a player that either was going to be waived or not see the field at all in 2023. What a great move by Khan, and everyone here at SteelerNation wishes nothing but the best for Dotson going forward in his NFL career!

What do you think about Jones being exposed to the business side of the NFL this early in his career? Let us know in the comments below!

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