Broderick Jones Trade 2026: What the Cowboys Gave Up to Get Him

Broderick Jones Trade: Cowboys Bet on a Former First-Round Tackle

The Dallas Cowboys acquired offensive tackle Broderick Jones from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, and the reaction across the league was immediate disbelief. According to Ian Rapoport, the Steelers are sending Jones and a fourth-round pick to Dallas in exchange for a future third-round pick and a sixth-rounder, the same sixth-rounder Pittsburgh originally sent to Dallas in the George Pickens trade. NFL analyst Jon Ledyard summed up the league-wide reaction in three words: "Hold on, what?"

That reaction is rooted in Jones's pedigree. Pittsburgh traded up to take him with the 14th overall pick, and he started at left tackle through the 2025 season until a neck injury against the Chicago Bears in Week 11 ended his year and required spinal fusion surgery. Jones was cleared for football activities at the start of this year's training camp but struggled to find his 2025 form, which is what ultimately pushed the Steelers to move him for what several analysts are calling a lopsided return in Pittsburgh's favor.

Why Dallas Made the Move

The Cowboys' offensive line has been a season-long question mark, and Jones represents a clear upgrade over the players currently behind him on the depth chart, fourth-round rookie Drew Shelton and Nate Thomas. Dallas is betting that a healthy, motivated Jones on a fresh start can return closer to his 2025 form than the version that struggled to regain his footing in Pittsburgh's camp this summer. For a team that has invested heavily in its skill position players, adding a former top-15 pick at tackle for a package built around future draft capital is a low-risk swing if the medical evaluation checks out.

The trade also fits a pattern for how quickly rosters are still moving in the final stretch before Week 1. Just one day earlier, the Cowboys' own AFC counterparts were making similar bets on cheap depth, with the Indianapolis Colts acquiring center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger from Buffalo for a pair of late-round 2027 picks. Roster cutdown weekend has turned into an active trade market for offensive line depth across the league, and Dallas moving on a former first-rounder rather than a depth piece is the most aggressive version of that trend so far.

What It Means for Dak Prescott and the Skill Players

Offensive line health is the single biggest swing factor for a quarterback's season, and Dak Prescott's protection has been under scrutiny heading into 2026. If Jones can approximate even 80 percent of his pre-injury form, Dallas immediately upgrades a starting tackle spot that had been a question mark through camp. That has direct fantasy and DFS relevance for CeeDee Lamb and the rest of the Cowboys' skill position group, since better tackle play generally means cleaner pockets, longer developing routes downfield, and fewer negative plays that stall drives before they start.

The flip side is real risk. Jones has not played a full, healthy season since his rookie year, and a player returning from spinal fusion surgery who already struggled to find his footing in one training camp is not a guaranteed fix. Bettors and DFS players should treat Dallas's offensive line as unresolved rather than solved until Jones actually takes live snaps in a Cowboys uniform, ideally against real opposition rather than only practice reps.

How the League Is Grading the Trade

Reaction has split along predictable lines. Some analysts praised Steelers general manager Omar Khan for recovering value on a player who was not working out, essentially reversing a costly first-round swing into future draft capital plus reclaiming a pick they had already traded away. Others focused on the raw talent Dallas is getting for a modest price, noting that former top-15 picks at premium positions rarely become available for a future third and a sixth outside of situations exactly like this one, where fit and health concerns depress the return.

Either read points to the same conclusion for bettors: this is a swing trade, not a settled outcome. The Cowboys' offensive line odds and Dak Prescott's sack total props are both worth revisiting once training camp reps clarify whether Jones is starting Week 1 or working back in gradually behind the incumbent tackles.

Our AI sports picks hub tracks how offensive line moves like this ripple into quarterback protection metrics and skill position DFS value across the full NFL slate, updating projections as depth charts firm up before Week 1.

What to Watch Next

Watch the Cowboys' next few practice reports closely for signs of where Jones lines up and how quickly he is integrated into the first-team offense. If Dallas names him a starter before the season opener, this trade immediately becomes one of the more significant line moves of the offseason. If he is eased in as competition rather than an instant starter, the value of this deal will take longer to show up in Prescott's protection numbers. Either way, Pittsburgh's return, a future third and the restored sixth-rounder, gives the Steelers real flexibility heading into next year's draft regardless of how Jones performs in Dallas.

FAQ

What did the Cowboys give up for Broderick Jones?

Dallas sent Pittsburgh a future third-round pick and a sixth-round pick in exchange for Jones and a fourth-round pick, according to Ian Rapoport. The sixth-rounder is the same pick Pittsburgh originally sent Dallas in the George Pickens trade.

Why did the Steelers trade Broderick Jones?

Jones started at left tackle for Pittsburgh in 2025 before a Week 11 neck injury required spinal fusion surgery. He was cleared for training camp this year but struggled to return to his prior form, which led the Steelers to move on and recoup draft value instead.

Is Broderick Jones playing Week 1 for the Cowboys?

That has not been confirmed. Dallas views him as an upgrade over rookie Drew Shelton and Nate Thomas on the depth chart, but his workload will depend on how quickly he integrates into practice ahead of the season opener.

How does the Broderick Jones trade affect Dak Prescott?

A healthier, higher-upside tackle option generally improves pocket protection, which is relevant for Prescott's sack rate and the Cowboys' skill position passing volume if Jones wins a starting job.

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