The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the 2024 offseason. With free agency kicking off later today, it will be followed by the NFL draft in April. The Steelers have made a number of decisions with players who were on the 2023 roster and will now have the opportunity to add some free agent acquisitions before making their first draft selection. Now that the NFL combine has come to a close, player pro days will continue to shape the team’s big boards before the draft.

When talking about mock drafts or NFL free agency, one first has to first identify the team’s main needs for the offseason. Before any gains or losses in free agency, there are some who would like to see the Steelers go with either offensive line or defensive line with their first-round pick. Others feel inside linebacker or cornerback could be on top of the list. With plenty of chances for the Steelers to shape their roster prior to April, their goal is usually to get into position to draft the best player available rather than target a specific position. When it comes to what position the team will select with their first pick, it is certainly up for debate.

In one of the latest one-round mock drafts by cbssports.com, they have the Steelers addressing the offensive line again this season before anything else. With the pool of offensive tackles being quite large, particularly ones who could be taken in the first round, there are a number of possibilities of who could be available when the Steelers are on the clock. Since the Steelers could go in any number of directions with their first selection, it is important to look at all the possibilities presented by various mock draft outlets.

Check out the Steelers 20th pick:

20. Pittsburgh Steelers | Troy Fautanu | OL | Washington | JR |

Even as the draft process rolls on, there may be some players most fans are not familiar with. If this is the case, here is a breakdown of Fautanu according to thedraftnetwork.com:

Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington

Size:

• Height: 6’4”
• Weight: 317 pounds
• Arm Length: 34 ½”
• Hand Size: 9 1/2″

Accomplishments:

• All-Pac-12 first team (2023)
• Morris Trophy winner (2023)
• Second Team All-Pac 12 (2022)

Strengths:

• Physical run blocker
• Athletic ability
• Positional flexibility

Concerns:

• Arm length/wingspan
• Hand technique
• Overly aggressive

Film Analysis: 

Troy Fautanu has been a bookend tackle for the Washington Huskies for two consecutive seasons. He has impressive athletic ability. Fautanu gets out of his stance with the quickness needed to take the wind out of a defender’s pass rush. Impressive lateral agility to mirror rushers without surrendering leverage. He possesses quick and nimble feet. 

He has heavy, strong hands to halt defenders in their tracks. Once he latched his hands onto a defender, he controlled the reps well. Fautanu does a good job running his feet to drive and displace defenders in the power run game. 

One of the bigger question marks for Fautanu is his arm length. It looks less than the ideal length. Fautanu punches in pass pro and hand placement can be a little sloppy and wild. This lessens his overall effectiveness and makes him work harder to secure the rep. Everyone loves his aggressiveness as a blocker but it can create issues. He will overset in pass protection at times. While lunging to bury a defender in the run game. 

Fautanu projects best as a guard at the next level. I am a believer in allowing failure before changing positions. Could he be the next Rashawn Slater or a Pro Bowl mauling guard? Endless possibilities.

Prospect Projection: Day 1 — Pro Bowl Caliber

For all you who are preparing yourself for the draft, what do you think of the selection? Would you be on board with the Steelers taking Troy Fautanu with their first pick? Or do you feel there is a better player at this position, a different one who may still be available, or that Fautanu will not make it to the 20th pick? Personally, it’s difficult for me to get excited about a first-round pick at tackle where arm length is one of the biggest concerns so much so the player is projected by some to move in to guard. For me, that’s not as much of a desirable transition based on the Steelers current roster. But I must point out that I am focused more on Steelers needs than potentially getting the best player. While I have no problem with the Steelers taking the sixth of ten tackles taken in the first round of this particular draft (I feel looking at positional ranking versus overall ranking is a waste of time and only a way to feel better about a pick after it is made), there are other options at the position which I think would fit the Steelers current need better at this time. Saying that, I state this wholeheartedly admitting I am not very familiar with Fautanu and his abilities.