Steelers select Moore Jr. in the fourth round – Steelers.com

The Steelers selected offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the 128th overall pick.

“It means everything,” said Moore Jr. of being drafted by the Steelers. “Growing up and watching them win the Super Bowl, playing in the Super Bowl. I know the history of the black and yellow being a football fan myself. Knowing the tradition, it runs deep up there with football. I know people up there are serious about the NFL team they have and I look forward to continuing that.”

Moore Jr., who played at Texas A&M, was a second-team All-SEC selection in 2020. Moore started 10 games at left tackle in 2020, a key part of one of the SEC’s best offensive lines in rankings in sacks allowed (0.7), tackles for loss allowed (3.8) and yards per carry (5.45) while finishing as finalists for the Joe Moore Award.

“I would describe my mentality as hardworking,” said Moore Jr. “Regardless of the talent you have, you have to work hard every day and prepare yourself for those moments. That is the mindset that I have.”

Moore Jr. started all 13 games in both 2018 and 2019, while playing in eight games his freshman season in 2017. He started off as a guard at A&M but switched to tackle early on.

“I know they drafted for me a reason,” said Moore Jr. “Whatever it is, I am ready to take it on. I started off at guard moved to tackle my third game of the season. It wasn’t a hard transition at all. It’s the coaching style we have at A&M, the next man up, you have to be ready to play any position.”

Moore Jr. met with the Steelers at the Senior Bowl, but he also met with the other 31 NFL teams, so he didn’t know how strong the interest was. After hearing from offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, the interest was strong.

“I am really excited about getting Dan, an athletic guy that is long,” said Klemm. “He is a very mature player. It’s exciting to get somebody who has position flexibility in terms of playing on the right and left. He is a guy who is focused primarily on playing on the left, but he is capable of playing on the right, that adds depth without adding numbers. I am really excited about this.

“This is a guy who is more than capable of being nasty, playing physically and finishing and all of those things. That guy has finished and pounded people in the dirt. He plays consistently at a high level with a high motor.”