Full Breakdown
Cowboys Acquire Broderick Jones in Trade with Steelers
8/30/2026, 10:59:23 AM
Trade Details and Immediate Impact
The Pittsburgh Steelers sent offensive tackle Broderick Jones and a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for the Cowboys’ 2027 third- and sixth-round selections. The move gives Dallas an experienced swing tackle while Pittsburgh gains future draft capital. The trade was confirmed on Saturday.
Background & Context
Jones was the Steelers’ No. 14 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He started 38 of 45 games, playing all 603 snaps at left tackle in 2025 before a neck injury in Week 12 required spinal-fusion surgery, sidelining him for the rest of that season and part of the 2026 offseason. After clearing practice, the Steelers declined his fifth-year option and drafted Max Iheanachor with their 2026 first-round pick.
Dallas entered the trade with concerns at both tackle spots. Right tackle Terence Steele has shown inconsistency, and left-tackle depth is limited to rookie Troy Fautanu and backup Tyler Guyton. The Cowboys also drafted Penn State tackle Drew Shelton in the fourth round as a developmental project.
Data & Statistics
- Picks exchanged: Steelers receive a 2027 third-round and a 2027 sixth-round pick; Cowboys receive a 2027 fourth-round pick plus Jones.
- Jones’ career totals: 45 games played, 38 starts, 603 snaps at left tackle in 2025, and 140 preseason snaps in 2026.
- Age and contract: 25 years old; Dallas signed Steele to a three-year, $33 million deal with a $10.5 million signing bonus.
Official Statements & Responses
Cowboys owner-general manager Jerry Jones said the organization will be “very, very aggressive” in improving roster depth, emphasizing a willingness to sacrifice future assets for immediate help on the line. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer noted the team feels “good about our tackle group” and is reviewing film to determine the best configuration of Jones, Nate Thomas, and Drew Shelton.
The Steelers highlighted the value of the acquired third- and sixth-round picks, describing the transaction as a prudent move to recoup draft capital from a player whose injury history has limited his upside.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the strategic rationale. Dallas officials frame the move as an aggressive upgrade to tackle depth, while Steelers commentary suggests it is a cost-effective way to offload a player they view as unlikely to return to starter form. No source provides a definitive projection of Jones’ role in Dallas’s regular-season lineup, leaving his future playing time uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think we feel good about our tackle group,” — Brian Schottenheimer, coach
- “I think it speaks volume for Broderick and what he’s been doing here the last couple of months,” — Mike McCarthy, coach
- “Ostensibly, Jones is better on the right and has a better path to reps on the right … but the recent film and injury history is scary to buy into, no matter the side,” — Ben Solak
