The 2026 NFL Draft is here, where all the picks that have been traded and earned throughout the year become actual players. That includes compensatory picks, where the league awards teams that lose pricey free agents an extra draft selection in return.
The highest compensatory picks are third rounders – the NFL only gave out three in 2026 – and one went to the Steelers after losing left tackle Dan Moore Jr. to the Tennessee Titans.
How did the Steelers get a compensatory pick for Dan Moore Jr.?
The Tennessee Titans signed offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. to a four-year,
$82 million deal in 2025. At number 99, it’s the third-highest of the year.
What did the Steelers do with the compensatory pick from losing Dan Moore Jr.?
When the Steelers use the 35th pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, we will update.
How was Dan Moore Jr.’ performance for the Titans in 2025?
Tennessee signed Moore, who was an average to below-average tackle with the Steelers, to a $20.5 million per year deal in hopes of giving future quarterback Cam Ward a solid protector for his blindside.
PFF gave Moore a 61.9 grade in 2025, which ranked 62nd out of 89 qualifying tackles. He graded slightly better as a pass blocker (62.5) than in the run game (59.1). He allowed 48 pressures, gave up eight sacks, and was penalized seven times.
With the Titans, Moore has largely still been the same player he was in Pittsburgh: starting caliber, but easily upgradable. Although just 27, he’s still likely not a long-term solution in Tennessee, even if the team paid him like one.
Should the Steelers have re-signed Dan Moore Jr. instead of letting him hit free agency?
I think we know how this one is going to go…
What is a compensatory pick?
Compensatory picks are awarded to teams that suffer a net loss of qualifying free agents during the previous year’s free agency period. So 2026 NFL Draft compensatory picks are awarded due to free agents lost in 2025.
Then those player are ranked on the amount of salary, playing time, and a bunch of other criteria and slotted into the end of rounds three through seven.
