The Dallas Cowboys' first big move of cut-down weekend wasn't a cut at all, but an addition.
By swapping draft picks with the Pittsburgh Steelers for offensive tackle Broderick Jones, Dallas may be hoping to recreate a success story from the mid-2000s involving former OT and coach, Marc Colombo.
Marc Colombo was one of the Cowboys' most successful career reclamations
Like Jones, Colombo entered the league as a first-round pick. But as a rookie in 2002 with the Bears, Colombo had immediate injury issues that plagued him for years. Between stints on IR and PUP, he only played in 19 games for Chicago for over three seasons, getting released after the season opener in 2005.
Dallas signed Colombo a couple of months later to a deep reserve role, and he appeared in just a few games on special teams. But in 2006, the former first-rounder emerged.
He was named the starter at right tackle and held that job for six seasons, helping the Cowboys make the playoffs three times during that run. After those awful, injury-filled years in Chicago, Colombo only missed eight games for the rest of his career.
Though Colombo never went to the Pro Bowl himself, he was a stabilizing presence on that right side for some prolific offenses during the Wade Phillips era. He was a noted leader, eventually returning to Dallas in 2016 as an assistant offensive line coach. He got promoted in 2018, then followed Jason Garrett to the Giants in 2020.
Broderick Jones has had a somewhat different path to the Cowboys
Since leaving Georgia in 2023, Jones has had a mix of on-field woes and medical issues. He played in every game for Pittsburgh for the first two seasons, becoming a starter after six games as a rookie.
He had ongoing struggles with penalties and pass protection, which didn't improve much in his second year. Jones was actually benched during the Steelers' Week 3 game, but his replacement was injured in practice the following week, which put Jones back in the lineup.
Jones moved from right to left tackle in 2025 and started 11 games before suffering a season-ending neck injury. Despite a rough season opener in which he gave up three sacks, Jones had shown improvement before the injury. But this offseason, Jones has reportedly lost strength and weight in the aftermath of his surgery and rehab.
On Saturday, Pittsburgh shipped Jones and a 2027 fourth-round pick to Dallas for picks in the third and sixth rounds. The picks' true value won't be known until after the season, and the Cowboys may be banking on having a better year than the Steelers to improve the deal.
But for 2026, it's all about banking on Jones to be a better depth option at tackle than Nate Thomas or Drew Shelton.
Broderick Jones has potential to start in 2027, if not sooner
Jones just being a decent swing tackle in 2026 would be a win for Dallas. But for this to be a Colombo-level success, the 25-year-old will need to become more than a backup.
A good opportunity could come as early as this season, depending on the health and performance of Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele.
Even if Dallas' starters stay healthy now, next offseason could present another chance for Jones. The Cowboys could make Steele a June 1 cut in a net-zero move on the salary cap, pushing $10.4 million to 2028 but at least not suffering any penalty in 2027. They'll be much more inclined to do it if Jones can show some things this year, even if it's just on the practice field.
Of course, we're jumping the gun a bit on the idea of Jones becoming a starter. He might not even be a good backup, given Pittsburgh's willingness to part ways. But there was enough perceived talent three years ago that Jones was the 14th-overall pick in his class.
If Klayton Adams and Conor Riley are the offensive line gurus they're held out to be, then perhaps they can do something with Broderick Jones that Pittsburgh couldn't. And if so, maybe Jones can become another valuable asset for the Cowboys the way Marc Colombo once did.
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