As the frenzy of free agency sped by, there were few transactions that caused a halt just out of sheer surprise, such as the signing of left tackle Dan Moore Jr.
The Tennessee Titans inked the former Pittsburgh Steelers blindside starter to an eye-bulging four-year, $82 million deal with $50 million guaranteed. It was easily viewed as one of free agency's riskiest moves.
Coming off a 2024 campaign in which he recorded a career-high 67.2 overall PFF grade and drew a No. 51 ranking in NFL.com’s Top 101 Free Agents list, Moore was hardly predicted to be a free-agency darling.
Tennessee fortune smiled on the four-year pro, though, and he's ready to prove the naysayers wrong, and the Titans and, most importantly himself, right.
"Obviously I want to exceed expectations," Moore said Thursday, via the team website’s Jim Wyatt. "But it's not only about proving the team right, it's about proving myself right. I feel like my expectations will always be higher than anyone else's are for me. I feel like by meeting my expectations, I'll exceed the team's expectations.
"So, not only do I want to prove them right, I want to prove them damn right, where (they're thinking), 'We got our guy. He didn't just do what we needed him to do, he did that and more.' That is the consensus I want in the organization."
The organization is coming off a disastrous last-place season in the AFC South and the NFL, drawing the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
Moore will aim to stabilize an offensive line in front of a yet-to-be-determined starting quarterback.
Last year's Week 1 starter, Will Levis, is back, but his future is as undetermined as the Titans’ top pick.
However, Moore's addition has already impacted Tennessee's 2024 first-round pick, JC Latham. Latham will now move to right tackle with Moore on the left side. Next to Moore will be another Titans first-rounder, Peter Skoronski at left guard, with Lloyd Cushenberry at center and another free-agent acquisition, veteran Kevin Zeitler, at right guard.
"I really like the group, and as an organization, I like what the team is trying to accomplish, what they are prioritizing," Moore said. "I think they are wanting to put an emphasis on the front, and I think that is where games are won, in the trenches. Obviously in the AFC South we have some really good rushers on the other side of the ball, and you have to make sure your front five is on point. I think what we did in the offseason and the young guys that we have in that room, I think we have the potential to be one of the best groups in the division, and one of the better groups in the league as well."
For all of Levis' turnovers and tribulations in 2024, a good many of them came with subpar offensive line play around him.
Thus, Moore's addition was an important one, even if the price tag calculates to the tab of a Pro Bowl talent.
Moore's average annual salary of $20.5 million is tied for sixth in the NFL and checks in above the Baltimore Ravens' Ronnie Stanley's $20 million per season.
Stanley, 31, was viewed as the top tackle headed for the open market. He didn't get there, of course.
At 26, Moore could still have his best seasons in front of him. That's what the Titans are literally banking on. Since his selection in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Steelers, Moore has started in all 66 games he's played.
He grades better as a pass blocker than a run blocker, though he's coming off his best season in the latter grade-wise, having scored a 61.7 from PFF. Moore also allowed a career-worst 12 sacks in 2024 on 1,111 snaps. In his defense, he was blocking for Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, who have a tendency to hold on to the ball.
Optimistically, Moore is still young, still growing and already has four years of starting experience with a team that went to the playoffs three times with him as a fixture in the lineup.
"Every year I feel like I have progressed and have gotten better each offseason -- that's something I take pride in," Moore said. "Obviously, Pittsburgh wouldn't have had me as the starting left tackle the last four years if not. I think this past season I was able to tap into some things that I wasn't able to in the past, just being an older guy, things slowing down for me, things happening more naturally for me. I really feel the game is coming to me now."
In joining Tennessee and head coach Brian Callahan, Moore will get a chance to play under the tutelage of Bill Callahan, a highly regarded O-line coach who's also Brian's dad.
"Bill thinks he can help my game a lot, and I believe he can as well," Moore said. "Hopefully we can do some great things together, and Bill can tweak my game here and there, and shoot, maybe I'll be looking at a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro in the future."
As high as the hopes of the Titans are for improvement from Moore, he's aiming to help the franchise do just the same.
He wants to bring about a change in approach and play, which is pivotal for a club that's lost a combined 35 games over the past three seasons.
"I feel like I am a hard worker, without a doubt," he said. "Definitely a guy who is going to lead young guys, try to be vocal in the room when need be. I am a guy who is easy to get along with. I would like to say I have somewhat of a big personality at times. I love to bring smile and joy to people. So, hopefully I can bring energy to the room.
"I also want to bring a type of demeanor and a type of swagger that we need on the offensive line to go and compete against some of these defensive ends and defensive tackles in this league. I want to put the onus on the offensive front, and I want us to be the leaders of the offense and be the reason why our offense is successful. I am just going to carry that mentality, that energy with me every single day and hopefully the team and the players and the coaches will see that."
