Last year, in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded up three spots from No. 17 to No. 14 to select OT Broderick Jones. They made the trade with the New England Patriots, and appeared to be positioning themselves to select a tackle before the New York Jets made their selection. The Jets were in need of a tackle, so naturally the narrative became that Bill Belichick, the mastermind that he is, made the trade to prevent the Jets from landing a tackle.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday afternoon, Belichick was asked about the trade in last year’s draft, and clarified his reasoning.