Steelers Scouting Report: OT Troy Fautanu is a dynamic athlete with size limitations

The Steelers made an unexpected move in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. With the 20th overall pick, Pittsburgh selected Washington offensive tackle, Troy Fautanu. Though draft experts expected the team to take an offensive lineman in Round 1, the Steelers didn't plan on Fautanu being available.

This marked the second year in a row that Pittsburgh selected an offensive tackle in the first round of the draft (they traded up to pick 14 for Broderick Jones in 2023). Fautanu was a four-star recruit as an offensive guard coming out of Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada in 2019, per 247 Sports.

After watching hours of all-22 film on Troy Fautanu prior to the NFL Draft, I did a deeper dive on his tape. Here's my full scouting report on Pittsburgh's first-round pick in 2024.

Strengths:

• Outstanding and effortless movement skills for an offensive tackle
• Elite lateral movements ideal for a wide-zone scheme
• Rapid foot quickness in pass protection
• Can turn and seal defenders with ease on reach blocks
• Excellent leverage and knee bend to mirror even the fastest edge rushers
• Active hands to keep defenders away from his body
• Nasty demeanor to finish blocks in space
• Aggressive pass sets help keep distance between the OT and the QB

Weaknesses:

• Doesn't have bullish strength to drive defenders off the ball as a run-blocker
• Gives ground against power rushers; forced to re-anchor
• Freakish athleticism, but not a great technician
• Lunges too often in pass pro; aggressive sets can work again
• Struggles to stay latched as a run blocker; defenders disengage too easily
• Has adequate length, but short stature could work against him at times
• Doesn't have the frame to put on much more functional mass

2023 Statistics:

• 15 starts at left tackle (984 snaps at LT)
• 2 sacks allowed on 623 pass-block snaps
• 88.2 pass-block grade, per PFF

Projected role for the Steelers:

Had the Steelers taken nearly any other offensive tackle in the 2024 draft, it would have been an easy decision to slide Broderick Jones back to left tackle. However, Troy Fautanu has been a left tackle at Washington, and his best traits come in pass protection thanks to elite mirroring ability.

Fautanu doesn't have the raw power that Jones possesses as a run blocker, so keeping Broderick at RT and plugging Fautanu in at left tackle for Dan Moore Jr. Makes sense. The Steelers may view this differently, as they have been adamant about moving Jones back to LT. Both tackles have skill sets that are best utilized on the left side of the formation.

NFL player comparison: Chester Pitts

I'm digging back a bit for this player comp, but I can see a lot of similarities between Troy Fautanu and long-time Houston Texans offensive lineman, Chester Pitts. Both players entered the NFL as offensive tackles who measured in shy of 6'4'', but with very good athletic traits. Pitts, a former second-round pick in 2002, began his career as a left tackle at Houston.

Like Fautanu, Pitts was 23 entering his rookie season. In the second half of his career, Pitts made the switch to left guard. He never made the Pro Bowl but he started 119 of 121 career games -- never missing a game in his first seven seasons.

Bottom line: Troy Fautanu is an effortless mover with rare foot quickness and mobility to develop into one of the best pass-protecting offensive tackles in the league. He will have some limitations due to his short stature and maxed-out frame, and staying engaged as a run-blocker won't be his forte. Fautanu is a high-floor tackle thanks to his demeanor, athletic traits, and position flexibility to kick inside to guard if things go south.