Insider Thinks Dan Moore Jr. Will Be Paid a Decent Amount in Free Agency
With the Pittsburgh Steelers drafting offensive tackles in the first round in back-to-back years, it’s expected that 2024 will be Dan Moore Jr.’s last season in Pittsburgh.
Moore has received a lot of flak from the fanbase over the years for his play, but Mark Kaboly of The Athletic thinks the criticism has been unwarranted. Kaboly believes the negative outlook mostly has to do with PFF’s poor grades on Moore.
“It’s hard to criticize his resume. What does he have, 50 career starts? I think people pay attention a little bit too much to Pro Football Focus numbers with him. I don’t think he’s as bad as a lot of people think he is,” Kaboly said during a recent appearance on 93.7 The Fan.
Kaboly doesn’t think Dan Moore Jr. is the second coming of Anthony Munoz, but he wouldn’t be surprised if he received a pretty decent deal on the open market.
“Is he great? No, but put it this way. If he leaves next year, a guy that’s 25 and has 50-some-odd starts, he’s gonna get paid a decent amount of money next year. He’s gonna be like a Kevin Dotson type of guy because the position is so light,” Kaboly said.
As Kaboly alluded to, PFF has buried Moore with their grades. Moore was one of the worst pass-blocking offensive tackles in the league last year, allowing eight sacks, which was tied for eighth-most in the league, according to PFF. Moore’s PFF pass-blocking grade was 39.7, which ranked as the sixth-lowest in the league.
Moore’s trainer — offensive line guru Duke Manyweather — disagrees with the notion that Moore is one of the worst offensive tackles in the league.
“You know Dan is one of those guys. You know he was a fourth-round pick a couple of years ago and every year people are looking to replace him. There’s something to be said about the way Dan goes about his business. The way he prepares and the way he’s gotten better every single year,” Manyweather said on the Chipped Ham and Football podcast in April with Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“I think the coaching staff and the front office respects that. What you are seeing is a guy who has started for three years or so and has turned into a really solid football player.”
Even though he’s in competition with Troy Fautanu for a starting spot, Moore reached out to the rookie shortly after he got drafted by the Steelers in April. Moore is open to mentoring Fautanu, which is really noble for a veteran who’s starting spot isn’t secure.
“Yeah, I mean, the kid just got drafted. It’s probably the best moment of his life. I remember that moment. I know that I would want to be welcomed,” Moore said in regards to reaching out to Fautanu. “We are happy to help him. He’s going to push a lot of people in this room. [We’re] working to help him grow.”
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