Steelers Tackle Tabbed as One of NFL’s Biggest Fallers

The Steelers will likely start Dan Moore Jr. against the Rams on Sunday. However, the team will trade-off with that, as first-round tackle Broderick Jones will sit with Moore back. While Jones has played well, the more concerning part of the deal is that Moore has struggled mightily. In 2022, he played well at times, although inconsistent. But Moore has had the floor fall out from under him in 2023, registering as one of the worst tackles in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

On Friday, PFF highlighted Moore as one of the least-improved players that have regressed from 2022 to 2023. They highlighted his concerning grade trend, which went from 62.4 in 2022 to 29.3 so far in 2023. Not only that, but his pressure statistics are subpar.

“Moore and first-round rookie Broderick Jones have split snaps at left tackle this season due to an injury that kept Moore out of Week 5. In Moore’s four starts, he has allowed the ninth-most pressures among offensive tackles (20),” PFF wrote.

Moore has not played at a starter level this year. That’s fine to acknowledge. His schedule of pass rushers was solely elite players, too. But Jones played a better game against the Ravens than any game of Moore’s career. The first-round pick showed tremendous signs of growth and looked to be on the upswing. There is a lot of upside for the future. With Moore, that upside remains oddly capped, and the bottom could fall out just as much as it can with the young player in Jones.

Dan Moore may start Week 7 against the Rams, but it should not be expected that results will suddenly change. Jones deserves the starting gig, but the Steelers are restoring their faith in Moore. Moore had a great training camp and earned the job with a strong training camp, but it has not translated to success in the regular season. With rookie Byron Young becoming one of the promising rookie edge rushers of the year, Moore will have another decent test on Sunday. He has to ace that.