Steelers' Dan Moore Jr. Detailed The Truth Of Why He Texted Troy Fautanu Once Pittsburgh Drafted Him 20th Overall

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the midst of pretty much completely revamping what the offensive line looked like just two seasons ago in 2022. The only remaining starter from that unit is Dan Moore Jr., who has had a decent career, but he has really been lauded for his availability. The former fourth-rounder has started 49 games in three years. His starting days may come to an end at some point during the 2024 campaign, however. The organization drafted Troy Fautanu with the 20th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after picking up Broderick Jones at 14th overall in 2023.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin will make Fautanu earn his starting spot, so throughout Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and into training camp, fans can expect Moore to be running with the first team for the majority of practice snaps. It's extremely possible that Moore even begins the season at left tackle while Jones stays on the right until Fautanu is ready to hop in.

Some may believe that Moore would be upset and sulk about his current situation, but it seems as if he is displaying incredible leadership qualities. He texted Fautanu after his expected replacement fell to the Steelers in the first round. Speaking with the media on Tuesday, he detailed his thought process behind reaching out to Fautanu. It certainly should give fans a sigh of relief that the three-year starter is taking the high road when it comes to Fautanu.

"Yeah, man. I mean, like, kid just got drafted. That's probably the best moment of his life. You know what I mean? I remember that moment. I know that I would want to be welcomed."

The thought process from Moore seems incredibly simple, and it was. He wasn't worried about his starting job at that point; instead, he wanted to focus on giving a warm welcome to his new teammate that just so happened to be entering the same positional room as him.

Moore continued to answer the question and wanted to make it clear that Fautanu joining the room is good for everybody involved, and he is more than happy to help him out as he transitions to the NFL. He confirmed that texting Fautanu was something he wanted to do.

"We're happy to help him. He's going to push a lot of people in this room. We're going to help him grow. So, yeah, I guess you could say that's something I like to do."

The make-up of the Steelers' offensive line is solidified when it comes to the guard positions with Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels, while it seems pretty set in stone already that Zach Frazier will be a day one starter at center. The tackle spots get a little bit trickier because the goal should be to get Jones over to the left side, but he won't be able to do that until Fautanu is ready. It's been noted by Moore himself that he doesn't want to play right tackle.

Steelers' Offensive Overhaul Is Nearing Completion As 2024 Season Quickly Approaches

While the quarterback position isn't set in stone for the long-term, the new faces in the room provide a great amount of optimism. The tight end group is solid, but there is still a little bit of work to be done at wide receiver. Once a true number two option emerges, or is traded for, Pittsburgh will just need to finalize the tackle positions on the offensive line. With Arthur Smith's guidance, the unit has the chance to be completely different in 2024 and beyond.