TUESDAY, 9:05am: Moore has officially signed his two-year deal with the Steelers, Lauten confirms (via Twitter). According to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter), the contract is worth $3MM, while Tom Pelissero of USA Today adds (via Twitter) that a $645K signing bonus is the only guaranteed money included.
FRIDAY, 2:48pm: The Steelers have agreed to terms with ex-Saint Lance Moore, according to PR man Burt Lauten (via Twitter). The free agent wide receiver will ink a two-year contract with Pittsburgh.
Moore, 30, had been one of the longest-tenured Saints, acting as a target for Drew Brees‘ for the last several seasons before he was released by the team two weeks ago. Moore’s 2013 receptions (37), receiving yards (457), and receiving touchdowns (2) were his worst totals since an injury-plagued 2009. The decreased production, combined with the presence of 2013 fifth-rounder Kenny Stills and the team’s need to pay star tight end Jimmy Graham, contributed to Moore’s exit from New Orleans. The Steelers will be hoping the veteran receiver still has something left in the tank and has a bounceback year in 2014.
Prior to agreeing to sign Moore, Pittsburgh had lost a pair of key receivers, as the team watched Emmanuel Sanders sign with the AFC champions in Denver, while Jerricho Cotchery headed south to join the Panthers. With Antonio Brown still firmly in place as the No. 1 receiver in Pittsburgh, Moore figures to see plenty of action opposite Brown or in the slot. As Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweets, Moore makes sense as a Cotchery replacement, particularly since the Steelers like 2013 third-round pick Markus Wheaton a lot.
While it’s not clear if Moore drew interest from other suitors during his two-week stint as a free agent, the Steelers appear to be the only team he visited.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.