The first order of business for the Tennessee Titans when the offseason began was to retool their offensive line, and they did just that in the opening salvo of free agency. 

Tennessee moved quickly to sign both tackle Dan Moore Jr. and guard Kevin Zeitler to reshape the unit. While the signing of Zeitler has been widely praised as one of the best moves of the offseason, inking Moore to a four-year, $82 million deal has been met with much more criticism. 

Yes, Moore is a solid tackle and a definite upgrade over Nicholas Petit-Frere, the player he replaced on the roster, but his overall contract value pays him like an elite tackle, which he is not. This fact was again pointed out by Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report, who lists Moore as the most overpaid offensive tackle in the NFL. 

Offensive Tackle: Dan Moore Jr., Tennessee Titans

Average Annual Salary: $20.5 million

It happens every year. Truly elite offensive tackles rarely sniff free agency. Even quality starters are generally locked up before hitting the open market. But that doesn’t stop teams desperate to improve the offensive line from overpaying guys who actually are available.

Such was the case with Dan Moore Jr., who got $20.5 million a season and $50 million in guarantees from the Titans despite allowing a dozen sacks with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, per Pro Football Focus.

The 26-year-old told reporters he’s aware some believe the Titans made a mistake and he aims to prove them wrong:

“Obviously I want to exceed expectations. 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.”

That’s a lovely sentiment, but Moore would need to improve markedly to be an OK left tackle.

He’s being paid like a top-10 one. And that he most assuredly is not.

There is no doubt the Titans were boxed into a corner when searching for upgrades along their offensive line. With a weak tackle class in the NFL draft, and quality tackles rarely available on the open market, Moore was their best option at the time. After a 2024 season that saw a rotating cast of underperforming offensive tackles man the starting lineup, they had to do something, and Moore has shown the ability to improve every season he has been in the league. Under the tutelage of offensive line guru Bill Callahan, Tennessee is hoping that some of the flaws in Moore’s game can be rectified.

While Moore may be overpaid in the eyes of some experts, his value in Nashville may outweigh the dollar signs. The Titans’ putrid play at right tackle in 2024 scuttled their offense and likely cost them numerous victories along the way. If Moore can just be average, he would be a significant improvement over what they had in the building and could help solidify the offensive line for an extended period. 

Yes, Tennessee likely overpaid for his services, but in the current salary climate in the NFL, they did what they had to do to improve and get a player they valued. Everyone will find out if that was the right decision once the pads go on and the intensity of the regular season ramps up; only then can Moore’s actual value be measured.Â