2024 NFL Draft Steelers News Steelers Transactions
Steelers Sign OT Troy Fautanu to Rookie Contract
The Pittsburgh Steelers officially agreed to terms with offensive tackle Troy Fautanu on a rookie contract, the team announced on Monday. The Steelers drafted Fautanu with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
While the exact details of Fautanu’s contract are not available yet, Over The Cap estimated that the four-year deal in that slot would be worth around $15 million with a signing bonus of $7.7 million.
Due to the Steelers drafting Troy Fautanu in the first round, the team will have the option to extend his rookie contract to a fifth season if they choose to do so.
At Washington, Fautanu started 29 games at left tackle but played inside as well as he started two games at left guard. But, the Huskies went one step further in developing him as they cross-trained Fautanu at every position in practice. That includes right tackle, which could be his position if the Steelers choose to kick Broderick Jones to the left side.
In the pre-draft process, many thought that Fautanu could be a guard, or even a center, at the next level due to his arm length which measured in at 34.5-inches. That was quickly shut down by head coach Mike Tomlin who stated that he will be an offensive tackle for the Steelers.
With Tomlin’s endorsement of Fautanu playing tackle, the most likely route that the team will go is to keep Jones at right tackle and slot Fautanu in on the left side. The Steelers will likely take the slow route, like they did with Jones last season, and have Fautanu be the backup to Dan Moore Jr. for the early portion of the season before elevating him starting status.
The knee injury aside, Fautanu fits well in the Steelers scheme, and if he does not work out at tackle in his rookie season, the team could kick him inside for the years to come.
Read This Next
