The Pittsburgh Steelers basically started the battle for the starting left tackle position when they moved up to select Broderick Jones with the 14th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. The 2022 Associated Press All-SEC selection in his first year as a full-time starter at Georgia has all the tools to start right away according to teammate Isaac Seumalo. Jones will be competing with Dan Moore Jr., the team's starter at the position for every game at left tackle since being drafted in 2021.
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Steelers OT Dan Moore Jr. will have his work cut out for him this summer, as he will try to beat out first-rounder Broderick Jones.
Despite coming for his job, Jones said recently to Pittsburgh media via 93.7 The Fan, the third-year veteran has been very accommodating and has even taken on a bit of a mentor role for the rookie.
"He really took me under his wing," Jones said of Moore. "He tells me what I’m doing wrong. He tells me what I need to do to fix it. He shows me more than anybody else what to do after practice. He stays out there with me to get extra work every day. It’s been an amazing feeling just having him as a big brother on the team, someone to look up to."
Jones, according to offensive line coach Pat Meyer is in a good competition right now, and his mindset will help him to win it someday. He's just not sure when yet.
"He wants to be great," Meyer said. "If he stays with that attitude and he wants to do that, when the time's ready, he's going to be in there."
In the meantime, Meyer confirmed that Moore has been a great resource for Jones, even if he knows his starting position is likely earmarked for the young man he's helping. That also hasn't meant Moore is going easy on the rookie.
"He has been nothing but helpful for Broderick," Meyer said. "At the same time, I know he has the approach that I’m going to win this job. That’s a true pro."
Steelers Tackles Offer Different Approaches To The Competition
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The Steelers seemingly found their cornerstone, franchise offensive tackle in the form of Broderick Jones out of Georgia.
Jones talked about how practicing against the vaunted Georgia defense forced him to get better quickly in college. He sees the competition as another way to continue to help him to get better.
"It's tough," he said via 93.7 The Fan. "But it's good 'cause I need that extra motivation. At the end of the day, it's doing nothing but make me better. So, I don't shy away from it. I run towards it."
For Moore, the perspective changes a little, but not too much. Having played two seasons as a starter in the league already, he knows what it means to be an NFL player. Moore shared some of his thoughts on approaching the situation as a professional and trying not to worry about things out of his control. For him, at the end of the day, the goal is to strive to be the best teammate he can be because that's the legacy he wants to leave.
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Steelers offensive lineman, Chukwuma Okorafor stands and looks in the distance at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA during the 2022 training camp.
Moore said he thinks it's going to be an open competition with Jones. He might also face some competition with Chukwuma Okorafor. According to reports, the team was trying Moore over on the right side during Organized Team Activities. This could be the team just experimenting with Moore's ability as a potential swing tackle once Jones is ready to start. Okorafor has had a rocky time as a starter, but has a $13 million cap hit for 2023, and would cost $10.6 in dead cap to cut according to Spotrac.
The battle for the left tackle position will start back up again when the Steelers open camp on July 26. It's Jones' job someday, but how soon is that?
So, Steeler Nation, do you think Jones is a starter by the end of training camp? Would you keep Dan Moore as a backup? Comment below!
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