In just two weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers will add seven players to their 90-man offseason roster thanks to the 2023 NFL Draft.
The seven-round draft, in which the Steelers have three top-50 picks, should bring at least two starters onto the roster, which could spell trouble for some current starters on the roster.
One such starter, at least according to Pro Football Focus, is left tackle Dan Moore Jr., who is slated to enter his third season as the starter on the left side. In a piece identifying 20 players around the league with the most to gain or lose in the 2023 NFL Draft, Moore was highlighted as one of three pieces on the offensive line around the league with the most to lose.
“Moore has undoubtedly outperformed his draft slot after being selected in the back half of the fourth round in 2021, logging more than 1,000 snaps in each of his first two seasons. That said, his 85 quarterback pressures and 19 quarterback hits allowed over his first two seasons lead the NFL — and not in a good way,” PFF’s Brad Spielberger writes regarding Moore having the most to lose in the draft. “Pittsburgh, sitting at No. 17 overall and receiving the No. 32 overall pick from Chicago, appears to be in a good position to land one of the top tackles in the class at either pick.”
It’s no secret that Steelers GM Omar Khan, Assistant GM Andy Weidl, and Head Coach Mike Tomlin have been looking heavily into the offensive tackle class in the 2023 NFL Draft. That includes players like the Ohio State pair of Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones, Tennessee’s Darnell Wright, Georgia’s Broderick Jones, and Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison.
Sitting at No. 17 overall and No. 32 overall, there’s a good chance the Steelers will have the opportunity to snag one of those top tackles, though Broderick Jones and Paris Johnson Jr. might be a bit of a dream at this point.
While Moore has had his struggles the last two seasons from a pass-protection standpoint, he’s certainly improved overall with his hand usage and pass sets. He has also really settled into his role in the run game, becoming one of the best run blockers on the roster.
Despite his strength in that area — and the Steelers are planning to lean heavily on their running game moving forward — pass-protection issues remain a concern, especially in front of prized quarterback Kenny Pickett. That has undoubtedly led to the Steelers’ decision-makers aiming to upgrade the position overall.
