The Pittsburgh Steelers' starting left tackle over the past two seasons has been Dan Moore Jr. Moore has been criticized more than any other Steelers' player in those two seasons due to the poor overall play of the offensive line. He has also given up 14 sacks through his first 36 career games. Going into 2022 Organized Team Activities (OTAs), it was expected that Moore would need to compete for his starting job with first-round pick Broderick Jones and he has done that so far while he also got reps in at a different position along the line.
Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Steelers' Dan Moore Jr. Comes Out of Tunnel for Start of Game.
Moore Labeled A "Big Winner" Of Steelers' OTAs
In a recent article on The Athletic, Mark Kaboly wrote about the biggest "winners" and "losers" of Steelers' OTAs. Steelers' fans were certainly shocked to find out Moore had been labeled one of the biggest winners of spring practices. Moore is in a position that most would think would lead to him being considered one of the biggest losers of the 2023 offseason.
After under-performing throughout his first two seasons, the Steelers drafted a new left tackle in Jones who most expected would have won the starting left tackle job by now. The organization even traded up in the first round in order to draft Jones, which shows the determination from the front office to replace Moore.
However, replacing Moore hasn't been as easy as the team thought it would be. According to Kaboly, Moore arrived at OTAs in amazing shape and has been putting up a great fight for his position as he is still taking almost all of the first-team snaps. Steelers offensive line coach, Pat Meyer was excited when talking about the future of Moore.
"If you watched him from midseason last year to the end of the season, he's improved as much as anybody I have ever been around...To me, he's going to be lights out."
If Moore manages to keep his starting job throughout training camp, we will be able to see how much he has improved in Week 1 when the Steelers' take on the San Francisco 49ers, who have one of the best defensive fronts in the league.
JORDAN SCHOFIELD / STEELERNATION (TWITTER: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers left tackle Dan Moore Jr.
What Does This Mean For Broderick Jones?
After the Steelers' traded up with the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft to select Jones, it is safe to say a lot is expected of him. Jones not securing his starting job yet at left tackle is concerning to some fans, but seeing Moore improve enough to hold his starting spot and giving Jones some time to develop as a second-string player might not be the worst thing in the world.
Steelers' fans are coming off of a year in 2022 where it was frustrating not being able to see the teams' first-round pick, Kenny Pickett, get any playing time until the fourth game of the season. Unfortunately, it seems as though that might be the case for Jones as he is in a very similar place to where Pickett was prior to his rookie year.
As it stands now, it is likely we will not see Jones on the field starting at left tackle for quite some time. This can be a good thing though as it would give him time to develop and become the best player possible early in his career which will help the Steelers in the future. This also gives Moore the opportunity to show off his improvements against Nick Bosa, Myles Garrett and Chandler Jones at the beginning of the 2023 season.
Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Broderick Jones (#77) takes part in the team's OTA's in Pittsburgh, PA.
Other Possibilities
There is a world where both Moore and Jones get to start this season, even if it is unlikely. Pittsburghs' current right tackle, Chukwuma Okorafor, has a cap hit of almost 25 million dollars over the next two seasons. In the event Pittsburgh decides to cut Okorafor, which has been reported as a possibility, the team would only owe Okorafor 13 million opposed to 25 million.
If this happens, Moore has already been working on his play at right tackle as well which makes him a right tackle candidate should Okorafor get cut. This could present an offensive line with both Jones and Moore starting at the tackle positions in 2024.
What do you think Steeler Nation? Who do you want to see start the season at left tackle? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
