Player: OT Troy Fautanu
Stock Value: Up
Reasoning: We don’t currently know where Troy Fautanu will play, but we do know how the Steelers feel about him. Given all the talk about his role on this offensive line, it’s obvious he has already become a linchpin. In fact, his versatility provides Pittsburgh with options to put together the best unit.
A college left tackle who moved to right tackle in the NFL, Troy Fautanu also has the potential to play guard. He already proved last season that he can be a high-level right tackle, but the Steelers aren’t worried about that. Largely, that’s because they are confident he’ll be a high-level player wherever he plays.
And that’s big for the third-year player with one year of playing experience. After essentially missing his rookie season due to injury, Troy Fautanu really blossomed into his own last year. Almost without fail, he looked like a seasoned starter. His technical chops are most notable, which can translate wherever he plays.
With Broderick Jones’ uncertain health and Max Iheanachor coming in—and Isaac Seumalo’s vacant left guard spot—Troy Fautanu’s versatility is paramount right now. While moving to guard is the least likely option, moving to left tackle may be the most likely. Because even if Broderick Jones plays this year, he isn’t likely to start or be here in 2027.
That’s why they drafted Max Iheanachor, who figures to profile best at right tackle. And the Steelers only moved Fautanu to right tackle because they thought Broderick Jones would be their starting left tackle for the next decade. As that no longer seems likely, they can move him back where he played in college.
There’s still a way to go yet, but moving Fautanu to left tackle may be in the Steelers’ best long-term interests. Even if Iheanachor isn’t ready yet, they could start Jones or even Dylan Cook at right tackle. Odds are, Fautanu will be their best option at left tackle in 2027 by a good margin, regardless. So why not move him now?
With the 2025 season behind us and the new league year underway, we still have stock to take. Already promisinga year of change, they are shaking things up. That is unavoidable, of course, when you gut the coaching staff. Mike Tomlin’s resignation will fundamentally change this football team, including the playoffs on the roster.
After a long season, we have finally seen that this Steelers team is playoff-bound. But they also showed that their progress was actually minimal,since they made it no further. Two years in a row, with two different quarterbacks, they went 10-7 and lost in the Wild Card Round. The only differences are that they ended the season on a higher note and won the division. But it didn’t help.
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