In assessing left tackle Dan Moore, the Titans’ massive free agent investment of the offseason, offensive line coach Bill Callahan sees a durable young player with plenty of upside.
But Callahan also acknowledged a reality: It’s becoming harder and harder for teams to find top-level tackle talent on the open market these days.
When the Titans decided to move JC Latham from left to right tackle following his 2024 rookie season, the team needed to fill a massive void at one of the game’s most important positions — protecting the blind side of the quarterback.
Tennessee left nothing to chance in its rapid pursuit of Moore, signing him to a four-year, $82 million deal. Pro Football Focus had estimated Moore’s market value at $45 million over three years and Spotrac had estimated his market value at $37.8 million over three years.
In 2024, Moore posted career best PFF grades of 67.2 (overall offense) and 60.9 as a run blocker. His 66.9 grade as a pass blocker was the second best of his career.
But Moore had plenty of struggles as a pass blocker last year as well.
He allowed a league-high 12 sacks, including eight in Pittsburgh’s last eight regular-season contests. In addition, he surrendered 41 pressures in 17 games, tied with former Titans tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere for ninth most among NFL tackles.
So, what sold Callahan, who has 24 years of experience as an NFL offensive line coach, on the 6-5, 315-pound Moore?
“In the evaluation, studying the length he had, his measurables, we just thought we could make some adaptations to his play that could really jump up a level,” Callahan said of Moore, who started 66 of a possible 68 games at left tackle over the past four seasons.
“So he has the athleticism, he has the length, he has the general knowledge of how to play. It’s just a matter of refining his technique, giving him a few more tools that he can latch on to, and then cutting him loose.”
The Titans are hoping Moore is the answer at a position that’s been difficult to fill since Taylor Lewan’s 13-game season in 2021.
But the reality is that Tennessee didn’t have many high-level options available when it came to searching for left tackles.
Among Pro Football Focus’ top seven tackle prospects originally expected to hit free agency last March, two of the best — Baltimore’s Ronnie’s Stanley and the Los Angeles Rams’ Alaric Jackson — were re-signed before the market opened.
Another, Tyron Smith, chose to retire, while yet another, Jedrick Wills, may miss the 2025 season with injury. Morgan Moses signed a three-year, $24 million deal with New England, while Cam Robinson signed a one-year, $12 million contract with New England.
“The way free agency has gone now … you don’t see a lot of free agent linemen,” Callahan said. “Anybody who has a very good player, they’re keeping him. They’re re-signing them early. So the guys that hit free agency and that pool, you’re going to try to decipher what they do best and how they can fit in your system.”
The Titans did land guard Kevin Zeitler, still considered among the best at his position, in free agency, signing the 13-year veteran to a one-year, $9 million deal.
But Callahan said finding top tackles is even more challenging than landing interior offensive linemen.
“I think it’s a function of the league is so dwindled down, [and] there’s such a need for offensive linemen, and high-quality linemen,” Callahan said. “They’re hard to find, especially tackles. That’s the number one area you see kind of depleted as you study the position.
“It’s hard to find quality tackles any more in free agency because everybody is keeping them. Like Ronnie Stanley. They kept him in Baltimore and he never got to the open market. So, it’s interesting.”
In a matter of months, the Titans will find out whether Moore has the potential to live up to his contract as one of the NFL’s best left tackles — or whether he is simply a solid player who was the best option left available.