Steelers’ Broderick Jones Must Be Officially Worried After Pittsburgh’s Latest Depth Chart Reveal

All the Pittsburgh Steelers have wanted to do in recent years has been to bolster the trenches on both sides of the ball. It has been a very clear goal for General Manager Omar Khan and his partner-in-crime, Andy Weidl. One of the more aggressive moves that was made by the duo Came in the 2023 NFL Draft. The front office was not content waiting around in the first round, so the decision was made to trade up with the New England Patriots in order to draft offensive tackle Broderick Jones out of the University of Georgia with the 14th overall selection.

It's hard to truly evaluate Jones and his future because he played the first two years of his career at the right tackle position. He was wildly inconsistent, which is why fans were excited that he would finally get a chance to play at his natural spot on the left in 2025. Unfortunately for Jones and the Steelers, the lineman suffered a neck injury against the Chicago Bears and would later be placed on Injured Reserve (IR).

This paved the way for Andrus Peat to step in and replace the former first-round pick, but that didn't last long. Due to injury, Dylan Cook eventually came into the spotlight as Pittsburgh's starting left tackle. He has been very impressive and even prevented Myles Garrett from recording a record-breaking sack in Week 17; albeit, he had plenty of help with chips from tight ends and running backs.

The Steelers seem to have really enjoyed watching Cook, who has bounced around practices squads for the majority of his career. Now, he may be forcing Pittsburgh's hand once the 2026 offseason arrives. He was officially promoted and named the starting left tackle over Peat, which is significant because Head Coach Mike Tomlin is very careful about how he handles the team's depth chart. It proves the coaching staff is really starting to trust the underrated lineman.

Cook has not just shown the franchise enough to be labeled the starter with Jones out, but he may have done enough to convince the organization that picking up Jones' fifth-year option for the 2027 campaign will not be necessary. It has been proven that the former Bulldog can be replaced, which does not bode well for him earning an expensive final year of his rookie contract.

Pittsburgh will have until the end of April to make an official decision on Jones, but it shouldn't come as a surprise if Cook is signed to a modest two-year deal to further push Jones to make a case for himself in 2026. This is a good development for the Steelers; however, it is also an unfortunate one because trading up to select Jones is continuing to look like a bad move.

It's not like Jones was awful in 2025; he was improving and showing that he could potentially be the starting left tackle of the future. His neck injury, though, is what now opens the door for the organization to explore alternative options for the future, one of which is Cook. 

Cook has stepped up in a big way and while there's no clear indication regarding which direction the Steelers will go moving forward, a bump up on the depth chart hints that Jones should be getting a little worried about that guaranteed fifth-year option.

Steelers Will Get To See How Cook Operates When It Matters Most

Pittsburgh is in a win-or-go-home game against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. The AFC North rival doesn't quite have someone like Garrett, but that doesn't change the stakes that are on the line. Cook will have an opportunity to prove himself once more, and the hope is that then he will then continue to get to show his worth in the postseason.

Do you think that the Steelers will pick up Jones' fifth-year option? Let us know in the comments below!

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