2024 NFL Draft: Steelers grab Fautanu in first round
Heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, there was a near-consensus agreement in the Steel City Underground backrooms that if Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan didn’t make any trade deals in the first round, he’d use pick No. 20 overall to grab a valuable, high-tier offensive lineman. After waiting through 19 picks and full analysis, Steelers fans were rewarded with just that.
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Just two picks after AFC North rival Cincinnati added Amarius Mims, highly mocked to Pittsburgh in many pre-draft runs, the Steelers held onto their pick and selected the 6’4″, 317 pound offensive tackle that is Troy Fautanu of the University of Washington.
Although Fautanu is considered to be athletic and versatile enough to play in multiple positions, the Steelers post-pick press conference with Khan and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin revealed that they consider their first round selection to be a tackle. Whether he’ll play on the right or left side opposite Broderick Jones remains to be seen.
There was admitted consideration of trading out of the No. 20 spot but when the Los Angeles Rams picked EDGE Jared Verse, Khan said the Steelers draft group felt good with staying put.
GM Omar Khan and Coach Tomlin speak to the media about OT Troy Fautanu: pic.twitter.com/SRrMNXi5oM
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 26, 2024
Fautanu, who played for the Huskies in the CFB Championship game against Michigan in early 2024, received high marks at the NFL Pro Football Scouting Combine. His production score (80) was ranked 7th among all OT prospects. His estimated athleticism score (87) was 2nd. And his total score (86) was ranked 3rd among all OT prospects.
At Liberty High School (Henderson, NV), Fautanu was known on the football field for repeatedly pulling as an offensive lineman and pancaking opponents despite looking like a large tight end in size, as noted by Dan Raley of Husky Maven/Sports Illustrated.
Off the field, Fautanu was known for his sense of humor and wit. That quickness of mind and weighing of all available options (he had offers from 18 schools) that can help a student athlete transition into college, such as utilizing Essaypro college essay writing help tools, was something the 4-star recruit utilized in picking Washington over Utah, USC, and UCLA. “Going through this, I made sure I was open-minded,” Fautanu said at the time. “Washington just felt like a good fit.”
While at Washington, Fautanu earned a reputation for having quick feet and good burst off the snap. His ability to get low and seal-off in pass protection while also getting to critical blocks quickly in the ground game earned him third-team Associated Press All-American in 2023. He also won the Morris Trophy as the top offensive lineman in the Pac-12. He and his fellow Washington linemen also received the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the best offensive line in the nation.
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That the Steelers utilized scouting outside of Washington in order to find out more about Fautanu’s ability speaks to the level of interest they had in adding him this season via the draft.
According to Pro Football Focus, Fautanu allowed just 2.0 sacks and 5 QB hits in 1,231 pass-protection snaps over the past two seasons. His pass-block grade was 88.2, which ranked him fifth in the nation among collegiate offensive tackles.
Some analysts felt Fautanu may have short arms (34 1/2″, hands 9 1/2″) for an NFL offensive tackle. Lance Zierline of NFL.com stated:
“Ready-made brawler without an ounce of finesse in his game. Fautanu has starting experience at tackle and guard… can be beaten by length, but his tenacity and footwork keep him connected to base blocks. He’s capable of getting to reach blocks in zone and chaperoning running backs wide as a pulling guard on the next level. He’s a pop-and-reset pass puncher who uses active hands and feet to help with extended mirroring he’s forced into.”
Much of that analysis was based on the premise that Fautanu would move inside, to guard, in the NFL. Clearly, the Steelers want their new first-rounder’s bulldog tenacity on the outside.
That likely is due to some of his key strengths: lateral hustle in both back-side and play-side zone blocking, good knee bend and lateral quickness, active hands and feet under pressure from rushers, balanced to counter bullrush, and the ability to generate push from his lower body.
That bodes well for both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at quarterback.
Add in his Combine 40-yard dash time of 5.01 seconds, 10-yard split time of 1.71 seconds, broad jump of 9′ 5″ and the Steelers have them a dawg up front.
time to be great men. #herewego
— Troy Fautanu (@tFautanu) January 11, 2021
