Friday was the deadline for teams to exercise or decline the fifth-round options on their first-round picks from the 2023 NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers were one of the teams that chose to decline the fifth-year option on their one candidate, starting left tackle Broderick Jones.
In total, nine players didn't get the fifth-year option but for the Steelers, this has become common practice. Going back to 2016, the Steelers have only exercised one time and that was for edge defender T.J. Watt.
Here is how all the Steelers first-round picks went down.
2016 - Artie Burns: Declined2017 - TJ Watt: Exercised2018 - Terrell Edmunds: Declined2019 - Devin Bush: Declined2020 - No pick2021 - Najee Harris: Declined2022 - Kenny Pickett: Traded (then declined)2023 - Broderick Jones: Declined
It's no coincidence that Watt is the only player on this list still on the team and aside from running back Najee Harris, played anywhere close to their draft status. Jones played well last season until his neck injury, but issues with his recovery have forced the Steelers to begin plans to replace him in the starting lineup. Jones will hit free agency at the end of the 2026 season.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Declining the fifth-year option all too common for the Steelers
