NFL Free Agency: Pittsburgh Steelers Sign Wide Receiver Lance Moore
By Matt Gajtka
Jan 4, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore (16) scores a touchdown after making a catch against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of the 2013 NFC wild card playoff football game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Even if the Pittsburgh Steelers plan to seek out a wide receiver or two in the NFL Draft, they still needed to bolster the depth at that position by any means necessary.
They did just that Friday afternoon, finalizing a two-year contract with free-agent pass-catcher Lance Moore. Financial details of the agreement were not immediately disclosed.
The addition of the 30-year-old Moore helps counter the recent losses of Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos) and Jerricho Cotchery (Panthers). Moore visited the Steelers’ facility earlier this week, so his decision to join Pittsburgh comes with little surprise.
What remains uncertain is how Moore fits into the Steelers’ offense. Initially drafted by Cleveland in 2005, the Ohio native signed with the Saints later that year and ended up playing 101 games across eight seasons in New Orleans.
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While catching passes from the dynamic Drew Brees, Moore contributed 346 receptions for 4,281 yards as a Saint, an average of 12.4 yards per snag. Moore’s most prolific seasons were 2008 and 2012; during the former he caught a career-best 79 balls for 928 yards, while he amped his yardage to 1,041 on 65 catches during the latter.
Last season, Moore’s numbers (37 catches, 457 yards) were way down, his lowest totals in a full season since 2007.
At 5-foot-9 and 177 pounds, Moore qualifies as a catch-and-run specialist who seeks out soft spots in a defense. Ideally, he would be employed as a third or fourth option for Ben Roethlisberger.
Pro Bowl receiver Antonio Brown will return after a career-best 2013, but he will need more help than Moore to boost the Steelers offense this fall.