PITTSBURGH — The Steelers practically constructed a billboard outside of their South Side practice facility by drafting guys they planned to play at offensive tackle the past two years, informing Dan Moore Jr. in not-so-subtle terms what they thought of his work and that his days in Pittsburgh were probably numbered.

But Moore, a friendly Texan and a fourth-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2021, also wasn't raised to pout or quit. Instead, Moore has authored a truly awesome story, going from someone the Steelers have tried to replace to one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL this season.

"Dan has been the ultimate pro," Isaac Seumalo said Friday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "I think he's playing the best football of his life."

It's hard to not love and respect what Moore has done — how he's carried himself, how he's improved, how he's willingly helped Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu, how he's endured ... and now seeing that recognized.

Moore has been the Steelers' immovable man, and that only partially has anything to do with protecting the blind side of Justin Fields or Russell Wilson.

"You just try to bring the same attitude every single day, be the same guy you've been," Moore said. "I'm a guy who works hard. I'm going to bring a certain attitude or mentality to the offensive line. Regardless of who they bring in, I feel like as long as I do what I'm supposed to do, there's nobody better than me."

In the past, that might've been nothing more than a good line or fake confidence. However, Moore has worked and matured to the point where it has become reality.

Here's what I mean:

— Through four games, Moore has a Pro Football Focus grade of 75.9, which shatters his previous career best (62.4 in 2022).

— Not only that, it ranks 16th among all NFL tackles.

— After allowing zero sacks or pressures during the preseason (87.1 PFF grade), Moore has given up just one sack and five pressures thus far. Additional context: Moore allowed 30 sacks and 91 pressures his first three years.

"Watching the tape from last year to this year, he worked his butt off this offseason and got so much better," Mason McCormick said. "I'm happy to see his hard work paying off."

I asked McCormick what stood out the most to him on the video he watched, and he cited Moore's physicality and intentionality with his hands. He also wasn't done.

"The way he's getting out of his stance, it's crisp," McCormick continued. "That first step is violent. He's also done a really good job from the mental side."

Whatever Moore has done, it must continue as the Steelers focus Sunday night against the Cowboys on establishing the run and starting fast.

When I asked Moore where he thinks he's improved the most, he offered a similar assessment. He's been more grounded in his pass-blocking set, allowing him to stay strong against bull rushes. Moore also wasn't about to take a victory lap.

"In Year 4, at this point in my career, I should be playing at a high level," Moore said.

I'm just amazed at how high.

And to think, here's someone the Steelers wanted so badly to discard, and a player they could soon lose to another team, unless they get creative and shift Fautanu to guard.

Leave that for another day. Fautanu will likely miss the season, and Moore has been nothing short of clutch considering that injury and Jones needing additional time to develop.

As for those bull rushes Moore referenced, he's producing an anchor rate of 95.45%, which means he's 10th among all tackles in the NFL (per PFF), an outcome few imagined given how Moore fared his first three seasons.

"I feel like my game has elevated in a lot of different ways," Moore said.

Yeah, no kidding.

Most impressive has been how Moore has navigated what could've been an awkward situation, the Steelers using premium draft capital on guys they expected to eventually book-end the offensive line and take his job.

In response, Moore has been the consummate pro, taking both under his wing while continuing to refine his game. I was curious if that came naturally to Moore, who does have an affable personality.

"Honestly, no," Moore said. "It took a little bit of being doused in fire in my early years to figure out how good of a player I truly was and gain confidence.

"That could have been the end for a lot of guys, but I kept attacking, kept staying up. ... I feel like my confidence is at an all-time high right now."

How Moore has endured could be traced back to how he was raised.

His father, Dan Moore Sr., didn't have a college degree but worked and worked and climbed the corporate ladder at a chemical plant back home. He retired recently from his job as a supervisor making a six-figure salary.

That work ethic resonated with Dan Jr., understanding some things take time, it's important to be a team player and that the payoff will eventually come.

Too often in professional sports, we hear about the jerks, players who are nauseatingly selfish. Moore's the opposite. He has welcomed those trying to take his job with open arms while impressively fending them off and thriving.

Hard to not root for a guy like that.

"My dad instilled work ethic in me at a young age," Moore said. "We don't quit. We always see things through. I worked my ass off to get here. I didn't work this hard for nothing.

"I'll never stop someone from trying to be their best or develop, but I also take pride in exceeding expectations. Regardless of how people see me, I want to exceed it. That's just the way that I've always been."

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