Could Arizona's Jordan Morgan solve Steelers tackle problem?

The release of Chuks Okorafor last week came as no real surprise to Steelers Nation. We are now entering a clear transition period at tackle. With Broderick Jones’ arrival and early success, the Steelers have one bookend and are searching for a second. Dan Moore Jr. is still under contract and started at left tackle in 17 of 18 games last season. However, as all Steelers fans are unfortunately very familiar with, Moore struggled throughout the 2023-24 season and his play made it clear he is not the long-term solution at either tackle position. Ideally, Jones would be moved over to left tackle and an outsider would be brought in to assume the starting spot at right tackle. There are many options for the Steelers to choose from, a plethora of talent at tackle in the upcoming draft, and a few veteran options to choose from in free agency. One of the prospects in the upcoming draft has caught my eye as a potential solution to our problem at tackle. Jordan Morgan could be one of the final puzzle pieces left to complete the offensive line.

Jordan Morgan is a 6’5” 312-pound senior tackle out of the University of Arizona. Throughout his five-year career as a Wildcat, he started in 37 games. As a true freshman in 2019, he made two starts at left tackle, while he also started in two games in the 2020 season before missing the rest of it due to injury. 2021 and 2022 played out eerily similar for him, making eleven and 10 starts respectively before missing the rest of the season due to injury. His 2022 season was curtailed by an ACL injury he suffered against UCLA, resulting in him missing the last two regular season games. After three straight years of season-ending injuries, a clear trend of injuries developed throughout his college career and is a major concern surrounding him that needs to be kept in mind as he enters the draft process. Despite his extensive injury history at Arizona, he leaves Tucson with a very decorated resume. In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Morgan earned two AP All-Pac-12 selections, a 2023 CBS Sports Second Team All-American selection, a 247Sports All-American selection, and a 2023 All-Pac-12 Selection. In a tackle-heavy draft, Morgan has a resume that can compare to almost anyone else in the draft.

Morgan’s bread and butter is pass blocking, he possesses a great pass set and is a great athlete to take on and neutralize elite collegiate pass-rushers. It is clear from turning on the film that he is most comfortable when kick-stepping, he displays very impressive positioning and leverage for such a large man. I would also be remiss to not mention his ability to get out in front of a screen pass that was put on full display against Washington this year. Where he showed his elite speed and quickness to get to the outside and washed away two Washington defenders freeing up the running back for a huge gain.

As comfortable as Morgan looks while pass blocking, he can look just as uncomfortable while run blocking. It is completely fair to say that Morgan tends to struggle in the run game. His arms are below the average length and that is apparent with his run blocking. One potential upside to his run-blocking woes is that many of his problems, excluding his arm length, seem to be fixable with time and coaching. Many of his errors come from an apparent lack of confidence and comfortability while run blocking. I would hope that he could be coached up to leverage his athleticism to his advantage on the ground as well as he does in the passing game. 

Morgan isn’t the perfect prospect, given his aforementioned injury issues and occasional trouble with run blocking, but he is a great athlete with elite size and a proven force to reckon with at pass blocking. Resulting in him being a unanimous top-50 prospect, according to a majority of the mock drafts already released, and a tackle many are projecting to be a long-term starter in the league. The Steelers may find themselves in an interesting spot with Morgan in the draft. It would be a reach to select him in the first round at 20th overall, but it doesn’t appear to be a guarantee that he will last until the Steelers pick in the second round at 51st.



However, if he is, I would implore the Steelers to jump all over him and waste no time calling the pick into Roger Goodell. He is an absolute steal if he falls to the Steelers at 51, but anyway here's to hoping we can get lucky and have him fall into their laps in the second round!