Steelers’ top draft pick sounds completely unready to start

Pittsburgh Steelers fans will not like what they hear about Broderick Jones out of camp.

For as much as Pittsburgh Steelers fans are raving about former Georgia star wide receiver George Pickens entering his second season with the team, it has been a training camp to forget for his past, present and future teammate, Broderick Jones.

Mark Kaboly of The Athletic put it plain and simple in his latest post from Steelers training camp: Dan Moore Jr. is blowing Jones out of the water for a starting tackle spot. Jones may run like a deer and has all the measurables, but his head seems to be swimming during fall camp. Kaboly would add that if Jones plays better than Moore in preseason games, he may win out, but this isn’t good.

Given that this is the first time in decades that Pittsburgh has used such precious draft capital on an offensive tackle, you can feel the frustration coming out of Latrobe. This has to work out, man.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Broderick Jones may lose starting tackle job to Dan Moore Jr.

Look. I am not going to glean anything major from preseason practice, especially along the offensive line. Sure, Jones played next to blue-chippers throughout his college career at Georgia, but this is also the NFL, where the best of the best come to thrive. For all we know, Jones could be a bad practice player, but a revelation during games. That is what made Charles Barkley a legend.

Frankly, the Steelers’ offensive line has not been what it once was for years. Yes, you could argue diminishing quarterback play has held them back, but not having enough time to throw the ball down the field could make any signal-caller look less than. Overall, I think Jones is going to be just fine with the Steelers. These things take time. The best part is he doesn’t have to start right away.

Where I think people are going to be up in arms over Kaboly’s takedown of Jones is that he felt like a sure thing coming out of Georgia. He was the best draft-eligible offensive lineman on the two-time reigning College Football Playoff National Champions! So I can totally understand why people might be worried about Mr. Jones. But let’s not keep up with the Joneses; let’s just play some ball.

Not until Jones plays the role of a turnstile in games that count should we be this overly worried.