Dan Moore, Kevin Dotson dealing with new additions to left side of Steelers offensive line

Based on two moves that were made in the offseason — one a free-agent signing, the other a first-round draft pick — the Pittsburgh Steelers showed their intention of improving the left side of their offensive line.

The trickle-down effect of the Steelers signing guard Isaac Seumalo to a three-year, $24 million contract and selecting tackle Broderick Jones with the No. 14 overall pick involves two veteran starters who enter 2023 with uncertain futures.

Despite starting the past two seasons at left tackle, Dan Moore could be headed to the bench because of Jones’ arrival. And Kevin Dotson is well aware he likely will lose the left guard spot he filled for all 17 games last season.

Dotson said Tuesday after the first day of organized team activities that he expects to be replaced by Seumalo, who took first-team snaps at left guard in the first official workout of the spring.

“Once you pay somebody, it’s almost set in stone regardless (of what happens),” Dotson said.

Seumalo was the second veteran lineman the Steelers signed once free agency opened in mid-March. First, they added guard Nate Herbig, who started 11 games for the New York Jets last season and made 28 career starts over four seasons with the Jets and Philadelphia Eagles. His two-year deal included $4 million guaranteed.

Dotson said he received a call from offensive line coach Pat Meyer after the Herbig signing.

“They were like, ‘You don’t have to worry about it. We just need depth. It will be a competition,’ and stuff like that,” Dotson said.

Then, the Steelers gave a three-year deal that included a $6.95 million signing bonus to Seumalo, who started 17 games for the Eagles last year and has made 60 career starts over seven seasons.

“Nobody called me after that (signing),” Dotson said.

Dotson didn’t need a phone call to confirm that his future with the Steelers was in jeopardy.

“That’s a sign enough to me,” he said. “(Seumalo) getting paid pretty much said it.”

Dotson played every snap last season at left guard in 2022 and said he was given no indication that the Steelers were looking to replace him.

“Overall they said I did pretty good, but the penalties was the thing they wanted me to do better on,” said Dotson, who was penalized a team-high 12 times in 2022. “They didn’t give any inkling they may go find somebody else.”

Dotson believed his play during the team’s 7-2 finish in the second half of the year warranted a chance to retain his starting job.

“I felt like I was going in my stride and getting better,” he said. “They were telling me I was getting better and talking good stuff during the offseason. Still, I can’t blame them. It’s part of the game.”

Moore started 33 of a possible 34 regular-season games after the Steelers took him in the fourth round of the 2021 draft. Like Dotson, he played all 1,160 snaps at left tackle. His 10 penalties, though, ranked second on the team.

“What’s done is done,” Moore said of the Steelers drafting Jones in the first round. “All I can do is focus on me and control what I can control, and that’s getting better every day.”

Moore said he spent the offseason focusing on building strength. He has gained about 7 pounds and said he weighs 317.

For the first day of OTAs, Moore was back in his familiar spot as the first-team left tackle. How long that lasts remains to be seen given that the Steelers didn’t trade up three spots in the first round to draft Jones so he could sit on the bench all season.

“It’s kind of early now in the process to say anything,” Moore said. “I’ll just do what they tell me pretty much to do.”

Moore said he is prepared to take reps on the right side if the Steelers want him to be the swing tackle this season.

“I’m approaching every single day like I do already, and that’s getting better,” he said. “It’s a professional business, and they expect me to treat it like a professional.”