Cowboys Trade for Steelers OT Broderick Jones: Why Dallas Finally Solved Its Right Tackle Problem
The Dallas Cowboys finally addressed their right tackle problem, and they did it right before the 53-man roster deadline.
Dallas sent third- and sixth-round picks to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a fourth-rounder and offensive tackle Broderick Jones this weekend. It is a quiet trade that could end up being one of the most important moves the Cowboys make this year.
Right tackle has been a wound for Dallas for a long time. The team has cycled through options, tried to develop from within, and never landed on someone they could count on to protect the right side of Dak Prescott’s blindside for a full season. Jones is a real answer.
He was a 2023 first-round pick by the Steelers who had a promising start to his NFL career before falling out of favor in Pittsburgh. He has legit physical tools, he has NFL starting experience, and he is only in his third year. That is exactly the kind of player Dallas should be targeting for a position that has been such a persistent problem.
Cost-wise, the trade is cheap. Trading third and sixth for fourth and a starting-caliber right tackle is the kind of value trade Cowboys general manager Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones should be making more often. Pittsburgh apparently decided they had seen enough of Broderick Jones at right tackle and were willing to move him for future draft capital.
Now Dallas has a functional starting five on the offensive line.
That matters, because everything the Cowboys do offensively depends on the line. Dak Prescott needs time. CeeDee Lamb needs routes that develop. The running game needs push at the point of attack. When Dallas has had a good offensive line, they have been a top offense in football. When the line has been shaky, the whole operation has fallen apart.
Jones is going to have to hit the ground running. He was signed and traded during the final week of the preseason, which means he is going to have to learn the Cowboys playbook, get on the same page with his linemates, and prepare for a Week 1 opponent all at the same time. That is a lot to ask of a third-year player who is joining a new team.
But the situation in Dallas is set up for him to succeed. The Cowboys have experienced coaches. The offensive line room has veteran leaders. The scheme is designed to give tackles help against elite edge rushers.
For Pittsburgh, the trade is a signal that the Steelers are moving in a different direction on the offensive line. Broderick Jones was drafted with high expectations, and the fact that Pittsburgh moved him for less than premium value tells you everything about how the team internally evaluated his fit.
The Steelers now have a fourth-round pick in a future draft, which is fine, but they had a starting-caliber right tackle on a rookie contract. Giving that away means the front office believes they can find better solutions elsewhere. That is a bold bet.
The Cowboys had been under real pressure to fix the offensive line before Week 1. They were connected to multiple free agents. They were rumored to be looking at multiple trade options. In the end, they landed on Broderick Jones, and it is a solid answer.
Dallas has been searching for this piece for years. Now they have him. Whether they use him well is the next question, but the acquisition itself is a smart move.
Cowboys fans should breathe a little easier. Right tackle is finally solved.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
