The Dallas Cowboys acquired offensive tackle Broderick Jones and a 2027 fourth-round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for 2027 third- and sixth-round draft selections. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed that Jones will compete directly with Terence Steele for the starting right tackle job.
Broderick Jones Arrives in Dallas via Trade With Pittsburgh
The Dallas Cowboys finalized a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 29, 2026, adding veteran depth to their offensive line. Dallas traded away its 2027 third- and sixth-round draft picks to secure Jones alongside a 2027 fourth-round selection, as reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Jones entered the NFL as the 14th overall pick in the 2023 draft out of the University of Georgia. Over three seasons with Pittsburgh, he played in 45 games and made 38 starts, splitting time between left and right tackle. Last season, he logged all 603 of his snaps on the left side before suffering a neck injury during a Week 12 game against the Chicago Bears on November 23.
That injury led to season-ending fusion surgery and an extensive rehabilitation process. After being activated from injured reserve on February 15, Jones returned to the field and played 142 total snaps across three preseason games to prove his health to potential suitors.
How the Steelers Handled the Transition
In Pittsburgh, Jones found himself trying to recover from spinal fusion surgery after losing his starting job on the left side. The Steelers adjusted their line by moving right tackle Troy Fautanu—their top pick in the 2024 draft—over to left tackle.
The team declined to exercise the fifth-year option on Jones’s rookie contract in May, which would have made him an unrestricted free agent at the end of the upcoming campaign. Pittsburgh subsequently selected tackle Max Iheanachor 21st overall in the 2026 draft, making Jones expendable.
“The Steelers were not shopping Jones — nor are they looking to trade other players — but were willing to listen if teams approached them.”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Brian Schottenheimer Sets Up the Right Tackle Battle
Upon acquiring Jones, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer immediately phoned existing starters to clarify their standing on the roster. He assured third-year left tackle Tyler Guyton that the trade did not alter his role, with rookie Drew Shelton providing depth behind him.
The conversation with Terence Steele, however, established an open competition for the opposite side of the line.
“When we made the trade, the first thing I did was I reached out to Terence Steele and told Terence that Broderick’s coming here to compete with him to be the starting right tackle. We’re not going to move Broderick around. As you guys can imagine, Terence Steele was the ultimate pro. ‘Schotty, I get it. I appreciate the phone call. You didn’t have to make the phone call.’ I said I did because I respect you that much as a teammate and a player.”
Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys Coach
Steele arrived in Dallas as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech in 2020 and has started 91 of 96 career games. The Cowboys restructured his contract during the offseason to reduce his 2026 salary and convert money into guaranteed bonuses, but his on-field performance has grown spotty in recent seasons.
Ramp-Up Week Ahead of the Regular Season Opener
With the regular season opener fast approaching on September 13 against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium, Dallas coaching staff members Conor Riley and Kyle Fuller are working to integrate Jones quickly.
Jones carries a base salary of about $1.5 million for the 2026 season. Team leadership views the current stretch as a crucial acclimation period to prepare the newly acquired lineman for game action in the Texas heat.
“And this is what we’re calling a ramp-up week. So we’re going to get these guys back, get them thinking some football. We’re going to ramp them up from acclimation, getting used to the heat. But I’ve seen right tackles and receivers and DBs come in and play within a week of really a couple days. And we’ll see how he does learning. But he’s a very talented young man, and we think he and Terence will have a heck of a battle.”
Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys Coach
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