Broderick Jones happy to learn behind starting LT Dan Moore

Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft pick Broderick Jones hasn’t come into a starting role for his new team yet with two preseason games still to go but the rookie isn’t pushing it.

Jones was the No. 14 overall pick in the draft this spring, taken by Pittsburgh to help protect quarterback Kenny Pickett. As he tackles the learning curve, the lineman is content to learn behind left tackle Dan Moore.

“Me and Dan don’t even look at it as a battle,” Jones said, via The Associated Press. “We just look at it as trying to get better each and every day between me and him.”

“I feel like it’s an asset for me just to sit back and watch somebody, you know, who’s older, who’s done it for years,” Jones added. “So just being able to sit back, watch what works for him, what doesn’t, you know, try to implement those small things into my game, you know, I feel like that’s a plus.”

In the first preseason game versus Tampa Bay, Moore played 10 snaps before hitting the sidelines. Jones then stepped in to play 49 offensive snaps. Although he had mixed results, allowing a sack, a QB hit and one penalty called, per PFF, he received more snaps than any other lineman. Th 6-foot-5 rookie is just taking things as they come.

“I’m really not that big on just coming in and, you know, just jumping in with the ones right away,” Jones said. “You know, I like to feel things out.”

Steelers GM pleased with draftees

The Steelers added seven players from the draft, including four who were second-string at their respective positions on the initial depth chart. That’s provided some optimism through camp and into the preseason. General manager Omar Khan said they’re all in the midst of competition.

As a result, they’re pushing to get better every day to earn their roster spots.

“It’s still early, but we feel really great,” Khan said on The Pat McAfee Show. “Those guys are competing and battling. Our goal is to put the best 11 guys on offense, the best 11 guys on defense on the field. But every one of those guys is competing for an opportunity to play. So very encouraging and very positive so far.”

A former Georgia star, Broderick Jones’ emergence helped the Bulldogs win back-to-back national titles. He was instrumental in filling in for an injured Jamaree Salyer down the stretch in the 2021 season, starting four games in his stead. Jones more than held his own and earned SEC All-Freshman honors as a result.

In 2022, he was a bona fide full-time starter, starting all 15 of the team’s games at left tackle and earning AP first-team All-SEC honors in the process.

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.