Brian Schottenheimer is thrilled with Broderick Jones—and he’s rubbing it in the Steelers' faces

The Dallas Cowboys may have landed more than an offensive tackle when they acquired Broderick Jones from the Pittsburgh Steelers. They may have found a player who finally gets the stability and coaching environment he’s been looking for.

Jones arrived in Dallas following a surprising trade that sent him away from Pittsburgh after three seasons. The former first-round pick was selected 14th overall in 2023, but his time with the Steelers never developed as expected.

Injuries, inconsistent play and frequent movement between tackle positions made it difficult for him to establish himself.

Now, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer is sounding remarkably confident about what his new offensive tackle can become. His comments on Thursday even appeared to contain a subtle message for Jones ’ former team.

Schottenheimer praised Jones ’ athleticism, willingness to learn and ability to absorb coaching. At the same time, he revealed that Dallas is already working to change some of the techniques Jones was previously taught.

“Great job of learning the system,” Schottenheimer said. “Very athletic. Love how coachable he is. He would just eat up all the coaching they could give him. He’s doing terrific.

“There are some techniques he’s been taught that we’re having to retrain, and usually it takes a minute, but in terms of the athlete and young man, I’m sold.”

Dallas is giving Jones the stability he wanted

Perhaps the biggest difference is how the Cowboys intend to use him. Instead of continuing to move Jones between tackle spots, Schottenheimer has made it clear that the 25-year-old will focus on right tackle.

That could be especially important for Jones . During his time with the Steelers, he regularly bounced between the left and right sides of the offensive line.

Jones himself identified that constant movement as one of his biggest challenges, explaining that it made it difficult to get comfortable with his footwork and build chemistry with the teammates lining up beside him.

Dallas also isn’t treating Jones as simple insurance, as Schottenheimer has confirmed that he’ll compete directly with Terence Steele for the starting right tackle job. That gives Jones a legitimate opportunity to take control of a position rather than waiting for someone else’s injury to create an opening.

The move comes after a difficult 2025 season for Jones , which was cut short by a neck injury that required spinal fusion surgery. Pittsburgh later declined his fifth-year option before ultimately sending him to Dallas, adding another chapter to what’s been a disappointing start to his professional career.

There’s still plenty for Jones to prove. His performance in Pittsburgh didn’t consistently match the expectations attached to a former first-round selection, and his struggles in pass protection became a recurring concern.

However, the Cowboys clearly believe his physical talent is worth developing. Schottenheimer’s early enthusiasm suggests Dallas sees a player with tools that can still be unlocked.

If the Cowboys can correct Jones ’ technical flaws while allowing him to settle permanently on one side of the line, this trade could eventually look very different from Pittsburgh’s perspective.