NFL Draft Profile: Pittsburgh Steelers trade up to select Georgia OL Broderick Jones
In this story:
#59
Pos: OT
Ht: 6053
Wt: 311
Hand: 1058
Arm: 3468
Wing: 8268
40: 4.97
DOB: 5/16/2001
Hometown: Lithonia, GA
High School: Lithonia
Eligibility: 2023
Broderick Jones
Georgia Bulldogs
One-Liners
The tools are there for Jones to be a first-round pick, he just needs to show a lot of improvement this fall.
Evaluation:
On film, Jones is an easy mover. He has a smooth kick slide and possesses quick feet to mirror pass rushers. Jones’ nimble feet and quickness allow him to stay in front of pass rushers. When Jones plays with good pad level in pass protection, rushers struggle to win the outside track against him. Jones is just too quick, with the knee bend to keep defenders from dipping under him. On the move, Jones is really fast. He gets upfield in a hurry and uses his length to get his hands on defenders. Jones’ length really stands out. He doesn’t know how to use his long arms yet but when he does, Jones will have an elite combination of length and quickness. In the run game, Jones consistently got his hands on defenders but his hand placement was all over the palace. This allowed defenders to get inside of Jones’ chest and drive him backward. Jones also played too high on the majority of his reps. He doesn’t have the natural play strength or and anchor to do that. In the run game, because of his lack of strength and hand placement, defenders were able to easily avoid Jones and get to the ball carrier. He had several negative reps in the run game. On the move as well, Jones played too high and out of control, allowing defenders to easily shed him. Overall, Jones is a work in progress but his upside is immense. It is hard to find Jones’ movement skills and length, making him an ideal left tackle at the next level. He needs to get a lot stronger and improve his technique. Having only played 463 snaps in two seasons, Jones needs more experience. He looked lost at times but that could be attributed to his limited career reps. Even if he doesn’t take a massive jump next season, Jones’ natural tools won’t get him out of day two. If he shows improved play strength and has more success next season, Jones will compete to be one of the first tackles off the board.
Grade:
3rd Round
Background:
Broderick Jones has gotten better through his first two seasons for the Bulldogs, the 2021 National Champions. In 2021 Jones shined where he played in every game and started the last four games of the regular season for Georgia. Before coming to Georgia, he was a top-ranked offensive lineman in the nation. He was the second-best offensive tackle and third-best prospect. From Lithonia, Georgia, Jones is majoring in Sport Management at Georgia. Now with a full season of playing time for the team, Jones will be a reliable offensive lineman for the National Champions.
