Has Steelers LT Dan Moore Done Enough To Be Kenny Pickett's Blindside Protector In 2023?

The offensive line was perhaps the most consistent positional group for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022. All five players, Dan Moore, Kevin Dotson, Mason Cole, James Daniels and Chukwuma Okorafor started all 17 games this past season. With that being said, some offensive linemen did not perform well enough to adamantly claim a starting spot in 2023, particularly at left guard and left tackle. 

The Steelers have already seemingly replaced their 2022 left guard, Kevin Dotson, with the signing of former Eagles standout Isaac Seumalo to a three-year, $24 million contract. However, the team has yet to do so at left tackle. Often considered the most pivotal spot on the offensive line, the left tackle protects the blindside of the quarterback. In the Steelers' case, that would be Kenny Pickett, who is looking to improve off of a strong rookie season in 2022. Dan Moore held the title of blindside protector in 2022. Will he do the same in 2023? 

Could The Steelers Be Looking To Replace Dan Moore In 2023?

While predicting that Dan Moore will not be your opening-day starter at left tackle is speculation, recent events have shown that the Steelers may be more involved in the free agency market than many believe. According to ESPN Insider, Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers were one of the teams that reportedly showed interest in former Kansas City Chiefs’ left tackle, Orlando Brown Jr. Brown was hands-down the best tackle in this year’s free agent class, so the news that the Steelers made attempts to bring him to Pittsburgh may shed some light on how they feel about their current state at left tackle. 

Dan Moore, overall, has played well for the most part during his first two seasons as a pro. A fourth-round draft pick in 2021, he has been incredibly durable thus far, starting all 33 games. Having Moore start as a rookie in 2021 was not the initial plan for the Steelers. The Steelers were hoping to have veteran Zach Banner back in 2021 after tearing his ACL in 2020, but his injury lingered long enough to where the team made the move to have Okorafor start at right tackle and have Moore start at left tackle. 

Prior to the 2022 season, the hope for Moore was that he would improve on his inconsistent play as a rookie and cement himself as the long-term starter at left tackle. Unfortunately, he was not able to do so. He was penalized nine total times in 2022, which is certainly less than ideal for a starting offensive lineman. He showed glimpses where he looks like a franchise type of player, but also had moments where he looks lost and does not trust his abilities as a pass protector.

Offensive Tackle At Pick #17? 

With General Manager Omar Khan doing a tremendous job of filling positional needs this offseason, such as interior offensive lineman and inside linebacker, the general thinking regarding the Steelers' draft strategy with their first-round selection is that it will be either a cornerback or offensive tackle. The Steelers have already signed veteran cornerback, Patrick Peterson. 

Does this mean they won't draft a corner with their first pick? Not necessarily. The Steelers often go with the best player available with their draft selections. Hypothetically speaking, if a standout corner is available at #17, such as Christian Gonzalez from Oregon or Joey Porter Jr. from Penn State, the Steelers would absolutely consider pulling the trigger. However, the odds of them adding an offensive tackle with either their first-round (#17) or second-round (#32) selection is becoming increasingly likely. 

Having a player such as Ohio State's Paris Johnson Jr. or Tennessee's Darnell Wright fall to them would be a dream scenario. Either of these players would not immediately become the starter at left tackle, but would absolutely have every opportunity to provide competition to Moore. With all four of the other starting positions locked up, adding a promising young tackle could make the offensive line group elite. Music to Pickett's ears. Needless to say, the best assurance you can ever provide a young quarterback is a solid offensive line. If the Steelers are able to add a franchise left tackle in the NFL draft, the offense may prove to be one of the most dangerous in the league. 

Steeler Nation, how do we feel about the Steelers rolling with Dan Moore as their starting left tackle in 2023? Would you be excited if they drafted an offensive tackle with one of their first two picks in the 2023 NFL Draft? Let's hear it in the comments! 

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