PITTSBURGH — The Steelers OTAs kicked off on Tuesday and the competition all over the team was already going strong. That includes the left tackle competition between Dan Moore Jr. and Broderick Jones, where the first-round pick will look to usurp the 2022 starter at the position.
However, Moore is not going to let it go easily. Indeed, Jones has an inside track with the draft capital invested in him by the Steelers, but Moore will still have an opportunity. Moore confirmed that after the first day of OTAs, it was he that started off with the starters at left tackle and not the talented rookie.
“I don’t know, it’s early to tell if that (first-team reps) means anything,” Moore said. “Listen, I just do what they tell me. It’s too early in the process for anything else.”
Pittsburgh did not tell Moore anything after they acquire Jones. He knew what was expected of him in a professional business, and more than anything, Jones will push Moore to become better. So, Moore is approaching it as a professional and in a business sense as a heated competition.
“This is a business and they expect me to treat this competition as a business professional,” Moore said. “That’s how I’m approaching this entire thing.”
So, the competition will wage on. Both sides, Jones and Moore talked about how impressed they were with one another. As it stands right now, Moore will make Jones earn that. In fact, Moore has bulked up with muscle. Pat Meyer seems to be enthralled and energized by the competition.
Moore has started for the Steelers since 2021 when he was a fourth-round pick out of Texas A&M. He confirmed that on his own, he repped both sides, including a good bit of right tackle. So, should Jones win the job, Moore is prepared to play either side if asked.