Steelers depth chart: Does Dan Moore Jr. deserve a shot with the starters?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have gotten some impressive play out of rookie offensive tackle, Dan Moore.  Has he earned an opportunity with the starters?

Dan Moore was a name I was very interested in when he was called to the Pittsburgh Steelers on day three of the 2021 NFL Draft. Prior to being selected, I had only seen a few partial games of Moore at Texas A&M, but I was well aware of his intriguing skill set.

Though he graded out very average in college, Moore was the perfect day-three developmental prospect. At 6’5 5/8” and 311 pounds, Moore had the ideal size for the position to go with an incredible 83 1/2” wingspan. Combine this with freakishly good athletic traits for a player his size and you have quite the impressive developmental tackle prospect.

After watching Dan Moore during the first week of training camp practice, I was skeptical, to say the least. Moore really struggled in OL vs DL drills and he didn’t look like a player who was ready to contribute right away. However, it didn’t take long for him to change my mind.

Over the past three weeks, Moore has been fantastic. He was looking much better by the end of training camp and he was one of the best players on the field in each of his first three preseason games.

Pro Football Focus continues to have great things to say about him. Through his first three NFL preseason games, he has graded out as the third-best rookie offensive tackle. What’s perhaps even more impressive is that Moore has the most pass-blocking snaps in the preseason without a single pressure allowed (62 snaps).

This is an incredible feat for the young rookie, and I don’t think anyone would have predicted he would have performed this well already. This begs the question: Has Dan Moore earned an opportunity with the starters?

Should Dan Moore start for Steelers at LT?

If you ask me, I’d say Moore has certainly earned a look with the starters. While I would have thought that the transition to the NFL would have required more time, Moore has earned an opportunity for a bigger role.

In his first three preseason games, the athletic rookie left tackle has displayed impressive footwork and sound technique – staying square on defensive linemen and keeping his feet shuffling to stay with them.

Unfortunately, I highly doubt this is an opportunity that Moore is going to get this year unless an injury occurs. Pittsburgh has made it clear since early in the offseason that Chukwuma Okorafor was going to be their left tackle this year. Though Chuks graded out as one of the worst tackles in the league in 2020 when filling in for Zach Banner at right tackle, the Steelers coaches certainly seem to have a great deal of faith in him.

Moore’s inexperience could be what’s keeping him from this remarkable opportunity to start at left tackle as a rookie. While I believe that he should be given a shot (considering how impressive he has been during the preseason) this may not happen unless Okorafor really struggles or an injury occurs to an offensive tackle in 2021.

I think that Dan Moore could win the starting left tackle job as soon as next offseason, but as of now, it doesn’t look like the Steelers are going to give him the chance to start this year.