Troy Fautanu, a Washington offensive tackle selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, is a player that has many admirers.
“His arms are remarkably long.” During our draft preview series, former professional and college scout Matt Williamson told us, “He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen play the position.” There, he appears to be a running back. The tape is entertaining. This is quite entertaining, even if you don’t believe O-line tape is amusing at all.
Tomlin stated on Thursday night, “How Washington utilized his talents schematically highlighted his talents.” “Everything you were hoping to see was there. He was out in their perimeter game when you noticed him. Crack throw. broad receiver displays. fantastic in the running game. An excellent drop-back pass defender.
Regarding Fautanu’s ability to play tackle in the NFL, I have no reservations at all. I don’t think the Steelers will be able to get him into the lineup quickly enough. I’m concerned that they’ll impede his progress, just as they did with Broderick Jones last season, who was forced to sit behind two tackles for longer than required.
Tomlin didn’t feel confident enough to start Jones in the starting lineup permanently until right tackle Chuks Okorafor popped off on the sideline during a Week 8 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
For whatever reason, Okorafor made up his own reason for being benched so that Tomlin could start playing a player he had traded up to get a few months prior.
Never use Fautanu in that manner again. The team’s concern with maximizing Dan Moore Jr.’s playing time at left tackle has reached its limit.
My worry is that the Steelers will be more than willing to deputize Fautanu for the most of 2024 in order to prepare him for starting in 2025 should Moore depart via free agency. This decision seems to be more about next year than it is about this one.
The Steelers aren’t competitive enough to use first-round picks for such a thing. Nor with second-round selections, as we seen in the previous season when Joey Porter Jr. began to play more regularly following the Week 6 bye and caused a stir in the secondary.
