Pittsburgh Steelers select Broderick Jones in first round of 2023 NFL Draft

Broderick Jones was a key piece of the Georgia offensive line en route to a second straight national championship. Now, he’s off to the NFL.

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Jones with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He started every game for the Bulldogs this past season en route to first team All-SEC honors one year after starting four games at offensive tackle in 2021. He redshirted the 2020 season as a true freshman, but wound up in the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman following the injury to Jamaree Salyer.

In 2022, Jones was one important part of a unit that allowed 0.6 sack per game, which ranked first in the SEC and No. 4 in the nation.

Jones also opened some eyes at the NFL scouting combine in March, Jones ran a 4.97-second 40-yard dash and had a 30-inch vertical jump.

Jones played high school football at Lithonia (Ga.) High School, where he was a Five Star Plus+ prospect, meaning he was one of the only players ranked by all four major recruiting media companies as a five-star. He was the No. 9 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Broderick Jones

Jones was seen as a first-round talent in multiple mock drafts in the lead-up to the draft. He impressed scouts at the NFL scouting combine and at Georgia’s pro day, and NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein offered his assessment of the former Bulldogs star.

Although he noted Jones still has some work to do to improve his skill set, Zierlein said he has plenty of upside to make an impact in the NFL.

“Ultra-athletic tackle prospect with the size, length and potential to develop into a plus starter on the left side,” Zierlein wrote. “Jones’ frame and technique both are in the developmental phase. His entry into block fits can be a little disjointed. He needs to improve his punch accuracy and timing to make the most of his length in pass protection.

“Jones is very talented at working into space and landing a block to help spring the running game. He has the nimble feet to mirror or recover against the rush. Jones isn’t a finished product, but the physical and athletic gifts allow for a projection as a good, long-time starter.”