Steelers sign first-round pick Broderick Jones to four-year rookie deal

OT Broderick Jones has put in solid work since becoming a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers as a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Now he has the contract to match it based on reports and an announcement from this morning.

Both Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network reported on Jones’ deal with the Steelers earlier today. Per Garafolo’s numbers, it should be worth $16.6 million over the next four years for the former Georgia Bulldog. Then, the Steelers confirmed the move themselves with a post showing Jones signing on the dotted line.

Done deal ✍️ pic.twitter.com/4mUwShZ3kk

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) June 23, 2023

Like all first-round deals, Jones’ contract should also have an option for a fifth-year with Pittsburgh.

This was the Steeler’s second signing of the day as DL Keeanu Benton locked in earlier today. As of now, that leaves second-round CB Joey Porter Jr. as the only rookie left unsigned.

Jones just wrapped up a three-year career in Athens. By that third year, he was the ‘Dawgs full-time starter at left tackle and ended up as an All-SEC First Team selection by the Associated Press. He also left with a pair of titles to boot as a member of the program that won the last two titles in the College Football Playoff.

It’s now up to Jones to help Pittsburgh’s offensive line protect QB Kenny Pickett. He may not be working with first-team reps as of now but, somewhere down the line, the Steelers are expecting more of the same success from Jones that he experienced while in college.

Jones getting ‘solid reviews’ from Pittsburgh coaches

Broderick Jones is getting “solid reviews” from the Pittsburgh Steelers despite not getting first-team reps during mandatory minicamp last week.

Jones, the Steelers’ first-round selection (14th overall) in April’s NFL Draft out of Georgia, has taken a back seat to Dan Moore Jr., who has started every game at left tackle over the past two seasons. The Steelers remain confident Jones will be the guy eventually — just as they drafted him to be, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.

“Evaluating a rookie offensive lineman while he’s still in shorts is a fool’s errand, but we’ll give it a shot,” Pryor wrote Monday. “Though Jones isn’t getting first-team reps, he’s earning solid reviews from his coaches and teammates. Offensive line coach Pat Meyer spoke highly of Jones during minicamp, while also acknowledging a steep learning curve for rookie linemen.”

Meyer added that when the time is right, Jones will “be in there.”

“He’s talented, he’s young, he’s athletic, he’s got all the tools,” Meyer said. “The thing is he wants to be great, so he stays with that, and he wants to be great, and he has that attitude to do that. And when the time’s ready for him, he’s going to be in there.”