Fitting Steelers Player Was the First to Reach out to Troy Fautanu
With the 20th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu. Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward, who was named the 2023 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year, announced the pick in Detroit at the NFL Draft. Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson was the first teammate on social media to welcome Fautanu.
However, during his post-pick conference call with reporters, Fautanu revealed that Steelers left guard Isaac Seumalo already reached out to him. They met a few weeks back on Fautanu’s pre-draft visit to the Steelers.
“Isaac Seumalo actually reached out to me. I met him when I was in Pittsburgh a couple weeks ago, and getting a text from a guy like that, a vet guy that’s been around the league so long,” Fautanu said, via an audio clip posted by 93.7 The Fan.
With the Fautanu selection, https://twitter.com/missi_matthews/status/1783725802388939174″>it’s
the first time that the Steelers drafted an offensive lineman in the first round in consecutive drafts in the 89-year history of the NFL Draft.
The Omar Khan and Andy Weidl regime have made one thing clear in Pittsburgh; they want to build up the trenches and dominate up front. Center is the last piece that the Steelers need to fill to complete the full rebuilt, which could occur in the second round or third.
Troy Fautanu is a 23-year-old prospect who was one of the least talked about tackles among the top group until the NFL Combine when he shattered notions from those who thought he had to move inside with a 34.5-inch arm measurement.
An athletic freak, Fautanu played most of his career at Washington at left tackle, except for a few games when he kicked inside to left guard due to injuries. For the Steelers, their mentality up front is creating a dominant run game that will allow them to buoy a limited passing attack. But in order to do that in Arthur Smith’s wide zone scheme, they need athletic players who can move in space, and nastiness from those up front.
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