Rookie Dan Moore stated his case in 2021 as Steelers’ long-term left tackle of the future

Dan Moore Jr. never redshirted in college. He didn’t when he got to the pros, either.

Outside observers of the Pittsburgh Steelers presumed from the time Moore was drafted with the 128^th overall pick all throughout the summer and until the latter portions of the preseason that Moore would take on a complementary role as a rookie. That Moore would take a year to learn the intricacies of the NFL, maybe add some strength and gain familiarity with the Steelers’ system.

After all, even if Moore was a three-year starter in the SEC at Texas A&M, the Steelers were set at their starting tackle spots for 2021.

Or so everyone thought.

“I kind of went in with the mindset that, ‘Hey, I could be in this thing starting Day 1,’” Moore said last week. “So that was kind of my emotion going in (to the season).”

As the regular-season opener approached, the Steelers came to the conclusion that Zach Banner (coming off a torn ACL) was not ready to start. During a late-August camp practice, they moved Chuks Okorafor from his projected left tackle spot back to the right and dropped Moore in.

Moore never gave up the gig. He started 17 of the Steelers’ 18 games, only missing the regular-season finale at Baltimore because of an ankle injury.

“I learned that I can maintain this league, that I can play through a full season,” Moore said. “I learned that I can perform in this league and block really, really good defensive ends. And I think in the long run it’s gonna help me, being thrown in the fire this year.”

Inexperience aside, though, @WilliamsonNFL seems to think the Steelers may have found something in Dan Moore. https://t.co/nYsynHZoc9

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) September 1, 2021

According to pro-football-reference, Moore was one of only four fourth-round picks who functioned as a primary starter for his team as a rookie in 2021. Moore was the lowest-drafted tackle — and third-lowest offensive lineman overall — to start as a rookie this past season.

Moore’s season was far from perfect, as evidenced by that Pro Football Focus graded Moore 52^nd out of 57 qualifying starting tackles in the NFL this season. But by no means was Moore overmatched or overwhelmed, and given his green status as a mid-round rookie, the Steelers on whole have to be satisfied enough to see potential through further growth and development.

“It has been great to see him build a foundation,” said the Steelers’ most veteran offensive lineman, guard Trai Turner. “Just build a foundation on his fundamentals. Just to continue with the staff and work that he does each week.

“He doesn’t have a small job. He has to go out there and go against some premier… edge rushers week-to-week, and I feel like he stepped into that challenge. He just got better week-to-week. He kept his head down and just worked. It wasn’t always pretty, wasn’t always perfect, but he got the job done. So, I definitely think he’s someone that everyone could build around.”

That the Steelers turned back to Moore for the playoff game in Kansas City was another tangible acknowledgment of their faith in him. When rookie center Kendrick Green missed a late-season game because of injury and the fill-in (J.C. Hassenauer) performed well, Hassenauer kept the starting gig even when Green was healthy again.

Moore, conversely, re-earned his job even after veteran Joe Haeg had a strong showing against the Ravens.

Okorafor is set to embark on free agency, and the Steelers’ level of faith in Banner is unknown. But even with those variables and the prospect of adding offensive tackles via the draft or free agency, it would seem Moore is in good position to hold on to a starting spot in Year 2. Showing further improvement could cement him as the Steelers’ long-term left tackle of the future.

“Now I have that first year under my belt, just talking to a lot of vets, (there is a) difference in games ‘slowing down’ from Year 1 to Year 2,” Moore said. “I am definitely looking forward to that. Now that I know what I need to work on from a technical standpoint this offseason, getting in the weight room, I’m definitely looking forward to working on my craft.”

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