The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded offensive tackle Broderick Jones to the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the final season of his expiring rookie contract. The move was first reported by Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler on Saturday. Jones, the No. 14 pick of the 2023 draft, played the first three seasons of his NFL career for the Steelers, starting 11 games in 2025 before being shut down for the season with a neck injury.
The Cowboys also released wide receiver Denzel Mims on Saturday, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. The moves come after Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer announced that outside linebacker Marist Liufau had suffered a fractured forearm and would require surgery. Liufau could potentially use one of the Cowboys’ two IR spots if he is expected to miss at least the first four games of the season.
Jones arrives in Dallas having played in 45 games with 38 career starts for the Steelers. The Steelers declined the fifth-year option on Jones’ rookie contract earlier this spring, after he suffered a setback in his recovery from his neck injury. Jones was sidelined for most of the offseason but was cleared in time for training camp, where he struggled at points, including giving up two sacks in an Aug. 21 matchup against the New York Jets.
The Steelers’ decision to move Troy Fautanu to left tackle earlier this offseason, as well as their drafting of right tackle Max Iheanachor in the first round of the 2026 draft, further called into question Jones’ future with the team. They currently have Tyler Guyton as a lock at left tackle, and Jones could potentially provide some competition for Terence Steele at right tackle once he arrives in Dallas.
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The NFL roster cutdown deadline is Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, and the Cowboys will need to decide where Jones fits in the team’s tackle depth chart before opening the season on Sept. 13 at the New York Giants. For the players affected by this trade, it means a period of adjustment and potential competition for a spot on the roster. This development could lead to a more competitive environment within the team, as players like Terence Steele may need to prove themselves to maintain their position.
The Cowboys’ coaching staff will likely be closely evaluating Jones’ performance in the coming days to determine his role on the team. With the season approaching, the team’s focus will be on preparing for their first game against the New York Giants. Jones’ addition to the team could potentially bring some much-needed depth to the Cowboys’ offensive line, and his experience playing in the NFL could be an asset to the team.
As the Cowboys approach the roster cutdown deadline, they will need to make some tough decisions about which players to keep and which to release. The addition of Jones to the team’s roster will likely be a factor in these decisions, as the team’s coaching staff weighs the strengths and weaknesses of each player. The next few days will be significant in determining the final makeup of the Cowboys’ roster, and fans will be watching closely to see how the team prepares for the upcoming season.
The NFL roster cutdown deadline is a critical moment for teams, as it marks the final opportunity to make adjustments to the roster before the start of the season. For the Cowboys, this deadline will be particularly important, as they look to finalize their roster and prepare for the challenges ahead. With the addition of Jones and the release of Mims, the team is taking steps to shape their roster and build a competitive team for the upcoming season.
