Heading into the offseason, the offensive line was seen as a major priority for the Pittsburgh Steelers front office. The offensive tackle positions were perhaps the biggest question marks, particularly on the left side. Fast forward a few months later, and the front office did more than enough to provide some competition at those spots. With the 14th overall pick, they selected left tackle Broderick Jones out of the University of Georgia.
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Steelers left tackle Dan Moore Jr. seems likely to lose his starting left tackle spot to 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones.
Now, the immediate thought on that pick was that it may mean the end of Dan Moore Jr. starting at left tackle. While the two have been competing in OTAs, it seems to only be a matter of time before Jones takes over the role. With the team investing a first-rounder in him, that's typically how these position battles shake out. There are some who still think Moore is a good enough left tackle.
One of our own at SteelerNation, Derwin Gray, is one of those. An offensive tackle that now plays for the Birmingham Stallions in the XFL, Gray was drafted in the seventh round by the Steelers in the 2019 NFL Draft. He knows a thing or two about offensive line play, and he discussed this topic with Steelers left guard Kevin Dotson in a recent episode of the Three Point Stance podcast. Gray started off by questioning the selection of Jones in the first round.
"Y'all just drafted Broderick Jones. I don't know what position he is going to play. My prediction, I think he would be a great guard. With Dan Moore being a left tackle and my guy Chuk [Okorafor] being right tackle, where does this guy [Jones] fit? I just don't understand that pick," Gray stated. "I don't think Dan Moore has played bad enough to literally just be benched. I don't think Chuks has played bad enough to be benched. So why did they go get him [Jones]?"
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor is the lone player remaining from the Steelers' 2021 starting offensive line.
The front office always seemed dead set on finding their franchise tackle, a cornerstone for the future of the offense. General Manager Omar Khan and the front office saw this as a necessity in protecting quarterback Kenny Pickett for the long-term. It is also the front office's job is to provide competition at every position. While Moore showed signs of promise in his first two NFL seasons, that wasn't enough for him to be considered a true franchise left tackle.
How will Steelers OT situation shake out?
As a result, they brought in competition in the form of Jones. For Moore, it's difficult to not feel slighted after starting every game the past two seasons. When Gray questioned the team's pick of Jones with Moore in the fold, Dotson tended to agree.
"I think this year, most likely, [Jones] won't play. It just don't make sense to me. I'm just thinking they just thinking about the future. If he play this year, he is going to be at tackle," Dotson said. "Chuks might be one of the most slept-on players in the league."
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With the Steelers' heavy investment in LT Broderick Jones, it seems likely that he will start Week 1.
Gray thinks Jones would make for a legitimate guard, but that would only make the depth at that position even more crowded. Recently, Dotson acknowledged that he realistically won't be a starter for the Steelers in 2023. The team just signed left guard Isaac Seumalo to a three-year, $24 million deal this offseason, along with a backup in Nate Herbig. The writing seems to be on the wall for Dotson, as this may be his final season in Pittsburgh.
As for the left tackle situation, Moore was seen officially taking snaps at right tackle on Thursday at OTAs. He recently suggested that would take place, and he could end up competing with Okorafor at right tackle. At this point, who knows what will happen between now and Week 1. Regardless, the front office did a great job in supplying Head Coach Mike Tomlin with a plethora of options.
What are your thoughts on these comments by Dotson? Do you agree with Gray that Jones would be a good guard? Will Moore slide over to right tackle permanently and compete with Okorafor? Share your thoughts in the comments below, yinz!
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