Steelers' Dan Moore Jr. Suggested As Attractive Trade Bait With Washington Commanders

The Pittsburgh Steelers went on an offensive linemen shopping spree in the 2024 NFL Draft. With three of their first five picks, they added tackle Troy Fautanu, center Zach Frazier, and guard Mason McCormick. They joined a group that includes last year's first-round draft pick, Broderick Jones. 

This has created questions about how the team will use Jones and Fautanu, two tackles who prefer the left side of the line. It has also led to speculation regarding what the team will do with fourth-year veteran, Dan Moore Jr. 

Moore was selected in the fourth round in 2021. During the 2023 season, when Head Coach Mike Tomlin decided to bench Chukwuma Okorafor, Jones, who had been learning behind the vets, got his big break. He'd played primarily left tackle in college at Georgia, but had shown he possessed more versatility than Moore. For that reason, Moore remained on the left side, and Jones moved to cover Okorafor's spot on the right. That is why many were surprised when the team went with a second left tackle, albeit another very adaptable one. 

This has led to predicting what will happen to Moore in the future. Will the Steelers want Fautanu to learn from the bench as Jones did last year, or will they start him immediately? Currently in the last year of his rookie contract, Moore has been suggested as a trade candidate. Pro Football Network analyst Dallas Robinson recently suggested the Steelers and the Washington Commanders do a trade for Moore.

"Commanders acquire: OT Dan Moore Jr., Steelers acquire: Conditional 2025 sixth-round pick (downgraded to a 2025 seventh-round pick if Moore plays less than 40% of Washington's offensive snaps)," suggested Robinson. "While the Commanders will give [the] 67th overall pick Brandon Coleman a chance to start at left tackle, they may want to bring in more depth, especially with a rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels under center."

It is possible that Washington could find the value in Moore that the Steelers did, using him even temporarily as they allow their third-round pick Brandon Coleman out of TCU time to acclimate? Protecting a rookie quarterback is a big job. In 2023, Pro Football Focus said that 82% of their massive sack problem was caused by the offensive line, with 25.5% coming just from the left side. 

It was clear the Commanders needed offensive line help in the draft. They surprised many people with defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton as their second pick. It seems like they chose to go with the best player available, rather than considering their need and taking a higher-ranked offensive tackle.  

"Washington could contact the Steelers, who are overflowing with offensive line options after using three picks on OL in 2024. With Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones -- Pittsburgh's last two first-rounders -- poised to start at tackle, Moore could be on the move as he enters the final season of his rookie contract," concluded Robinson.

Moore has outplayed his draft spot, starting all three seasons. However, that play was not excellent, which makes the 'offensive line cup runneth over' comment confusing. The offensive line has been one of the Steelers' biggest areas of need the past few seasons, and now they are building it up. What the team has is some depth, rather than an overabundance. 

All of that plays into the decision about Moore. If the Steelers trade him for the suggested sixth-round pick, one would have to wonder where that leaves the organization if someone gets injured. Moore has also always been a consummate professional; he was among the first to reach out to Fautanu and welcome him, just as he did with Jones last year. With that said, he could also be a good support for Newton in Washington.    

Is Steelers' Dan Moore Jr. Worth More Than A Sixth-Round Pick?

Recently, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said that he believes Moore will rake in a cash windfall in the 2025 season. According to him, there is very little chance that either Moore or the Steelers will negotiate for him to stay in Pittsburgh after the expiration of his rookie contract. The drafting of Fautanu was the proverbial last nail.

No one can dispute that Moore has worked his tail off since being drafted. The expectations for a fourth-round lineman are fairly low, which seemed to work in his favor. While Pittsburgh's fan base may not have appreciated him to the fullest, Dulac feels that other teams will. This begs the question: Is Moore worth a sixth or worse, possibly a seventh-round pick? Is he being undervalued? If Moore can haul in a big contract for 2025, why would the Steelers let him go for a sixth-round pick?  

Some believe that Fautanu will not be handed the keys to start immediately. Jones had to battle Moore and earn his spot on the line last season; an unfortunate benching helped expedite that. The line may look exactly as it did at the end of 2023, and Fautanu will have to pay his dues.