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Pittsburgh has two major holes to fill on the offensive line ahead of the 2024 NFL Season
The 2024 NFL Draft is just days away, which means that the Pittsburgh Steelers fans around the world anxiously awaiting word as to which of the three gigantic holes on their roster (offensive tackle, center, wide receiver) will soon be filled will finally have their answer.
In peak NFL draft rumor week, attempting to discern any team’s true intentions is a fool’s errand, but NFL betting odds can sometimes be indicative of which way the rumor winds are blowing as oddsmakers adjust the final lines in the days leading up to the draft. So, here’s a look at the current odds for what position the Steelers will select with their first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Steelers odds: Position of 1st player selected in 2024 NFL Draft
Offensive line: -350
Wide receiver: +400
Cornerback: +600
Defensive line/EDGE: +1500
Safety: +5000
Linebacker: +5000
Tight end: +7500
Quarterback: +10000
Running back: +15000
Kicker/punter/longsnapper: +20000
Odds for the Steelers first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft have continued to remain heavily in favor of the offensive line at -350. That certainly makes sense, considering that two of Pittsburgh’s top three needs are on the offensive line, with -350 odds implying a 77.8% likelihood.
According to NFL Mock Draft Database, a resource that compiles NFL mock draft results from various media outlets, the most common players mocked to the Steelers include Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson, Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims and Alabama offensive tackle J.C. Latham — all offensive lineman. Another popular pick as of late is versatile IOL Graham Barton out of Duke, who played at center as a true freshman before transitioning to left tackle for his final three seasons. Again… offensive line. Are you sensing a pattern?
If the Steelers don’t go with an offensive lineman, odds next favor wide receiver, with LSU prospect Brian Thomas Jr. a popular selection in NFL mock drafts. Odds for the Steelers to draft a wide receiver are at +400, implying a 20% likelihood. When considering the top receivers in this class beyond the top three (Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers), here’s a look at where the others stand in the overall consensus big board rankings:
No. 18 — Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU)
No. 27 — Adonai Mitchell (Texas)
No. 33 — Ladd McConkey (Georgia)
No. 34 — Xavier Worthy (Texas)
All things considered, given the depth of this receiver class and the richness at the top of the tackle class, it seems most likely that the Steelers are walking away with an offensive lineman in Round 1.
Do you agree? Join the community at Behind The Steel Curtain and let us know in the comments!
Steelers news and commentary from Monday, April 22nd
Welcome to the Terrible Towel Tales, where we’ll highlight some of the latest stories permeating Steelers media for your reading pleasure every Monday through Saturday. In today’s news…
It seems like all options are still on the table for the Pittsburgh Steelers as the days and hours until the start of the 2024 NFL Draft tick away but one analyst points to one move that wouldn’t be prudent for them to make, based on recent history.
In 2019, the Steelers dealt picks No. 20, No. 50 and a 2020 third-round pick for the 10th overall pick, which they used to take Michigan linebacker Devin Bush. Independent of how Bush’s career shook out, ESPN’s Seth Walder sees it as an unsound move and criticized then-general manager Kevin Colbert for wasting extra picks to overpay for their eventual first-round selection.
The Pittsburgh Steelers got a huge bargain when they traded a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft to the Chicago Bears in exchange for quarterback Justin Fields. But in this mock draft scenario, the Steelers see that Fields has a big payday coming they don’t feel ready to commit to so they strike while the iron is hot and trade Fields to the Denver Broncos for their third-round pick (No. 76) and fifth-round pick (No. 136).
After the trade, the Steelers now have an extra high pick but it throws quarterback into the mix as a draft need.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Tyler Boyd deal is dead. That very much seems certain, and was largely reaffirmed on Saturday when Jeremy Fowler stated that the team still had not made a ‘hard offer’ for Boyd yet, which tracks with everything around the situation.
Currently, Pittsburgh has rising superstar Joey Porter Jr. and the recently-acquired Donte Jackson as their top two cornerbacks. Cory Trice and Darius Rush, both entering their second years in the NFL, are also on the roster. Outside of that, they don’t have a cornerback on the roster who suited up for them last season after Patrick Peterson was released and Levi Wallace wasn’t re-signed.
It’s all but certain the Steelers will add a cornerback in this year’s draft, and one name that fans have had circled for months is Michigan’s Mike Sainristil. In a recent interview with Mitch Kaiser of PFF, Sainristil said he would love to be drafted by the Steelers and create a “no-fly zone” with Porter. The Massachusetts native also named the Patriots as a team he could see himself with, being that it’s his hometown team.
Sainristil also noted that former Steelers and current Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton is someone whom he models his game after.
Sainristil had six interceptions in 2023 with the Wolverines and four touchdowns.
Overall takeaways from the Steelers pre-draft press conference
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan held their pre-draft press conference ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft beginning this Thursday night. In terms of what was said, these were the most notable nuggets.
The Steelers aren’t eager to trade up or down in the draft
Pittsburgh has been labeled as a team that could be a trade target in the first round. Should the Buffalo Bills or Arizona Cardinals, for example, be a team that want to move up, the Steelers will all but certainly get a call sitting at No. 20. Khan said, though, that the Steelers won’t be in a hurry to trade down, noting that if a good player they like is on the board when they are up, they will take him.
This doesn’t rule anything out, obviously, but it does give a small glimpse into the Steelers feeling content with staying put at No. 20.
They want to ‘find Steelers’
Both Tomlin and Khan have highlighted that they want to “Find Steelers” for the future. Khan said that means both as players and what a guy can bring on the field, but as well as who they are as people. Khan highlighted Isaac Seumalo as a perfect example of a guy who they were really high on last offseason and once they brought him in and got to know him, they knew they wanted to sign him.
Patrick Queen said something similar during his introductory press conference, saying that Mike Tomlin told him that he was a Steeler and he needed to come to Pittsburgh. They want high-quality football players, but also high-quality men.
The Steelers ‘aren’t thirsty’ at any particular position
Both Tomlin and Khan noted the work done in free agency and trades to fill positions of need thus far this offseason.
“We’ve addressed a lot of needs,” Tomlin said. “[We] don’t feel overly thirsty in any particular area.”
Most notably, the Steelers added two receivers in free agency in Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins.
Even as it pertains to center, arguably the biggest position of need, Khan said the Steelers “have guys on the roster that have flexibility [to play center.]”
With that said, the Steelers openly said they were confident in Kenny Pickett before signing Russell Wilson. They aren’t going to just completely expose their hand ahead of the draft. Do they like the guys they have in the building? I’m sure they do. However, I’m sure they are also smart enough to realize that Nate Herbig can’t be the Week 1 starter at center. The same way they know that Jefferson and Watkins can’t be, and won’t be, the only moves they make at receiver.
The Steelers head coach says he knows his actions are watched closely
During the Steelers’ pre-draft press conference, general manager Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin answered questions from the media about the draft process.
Tomlin was asked about his Pro Day habits, in specific his trip to Ohio State’s Pro Day to see Justin Fields a few years ago now that he is on the roster. Tomlin gave somewhat of a surprising answer.
“Sometimes at Pro Days, I’m looking at people I’m not interested in because I know everyone’s watching,” Tomlin said. “To be bluntly honest, there’s not a lot of my peers that work on the Pro Day circuit the way that I work. And so I understand that my movement, what I pay attention to, who I conversate with all becomes media fodder. And so sometimes I have fun with you guys.”
The Steelers acquired Fields shortly after signing Russell Wilson and subsequently trading Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was no secret that at the time of Fields entering the draft, Mike Tomlin was a big fan of his. Plus, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Tomlin would have drafted Fields had he fallen to the Steelers in 2021.
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Jarrett Bailey’s final Steelers mock draft of the 2024 draft season
Good lord I cannot wait to not hear the phrase “Mock draft” for the next year.
At this point in the offseason when it’s been nothing but mock draft this, mock draft that on social media for three months, it’s enough to make me want to put my head in the oven.
Anyway, this is my final Steelers mock draft of the 2024 draft season- let’s get into it.
Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Sure, let’s get weird. Sincerely, I do think the best move for the Steelers is trading down and gaining more assets to address their needs in the first three rounds. Pittsburgh gets picks 28, 60, and 133 from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for picks 20, 98, and 195 and they take Mitchell to put alongside George Pickens.
Round 2, Pick 51: C Zach Frazier, West Virginia
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Over the last week, the top centers have been slipping down boards. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. doesn’t have a center being taken until the middle of the second round. While that doesn’t necessarily mean it will 100 percent happen, he’s been very adamant that the people he speaks with within the league don’t see either Jackson Powers-Johnson nor Zach Frazier going in the first round. Should this be the case, the Steelers could have their cake and eat it too by taking Mitchell in the first and have Frazier sitting at 51 when they are on the clock.
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The Steelers had Fisher in for a visit, and he fills that need at right tackle once the Steelers move Broderick Jones to the left side. How that will go in camp is TBD, but if their plan is to move Broderick to his natural spot at left tackle, draft a right tackle to fill that whole and move Dan Moore to the bench.
Round 3, Pick 84: CB Caelen Carson, Wake Forest
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Carson played all over the Wake Forest secondary during his time with the Demon Deacons, He can play outside and in the slot, which gives the Steelers some flexibility on what they could do with him and how they utilize him. Carson is also a very willing tackler and a good run defender from the outside. He was one of the few bright spots on a bad Wake Forest team, and would be a nice addition to a young Steelers defensive backfield.
Round 4, Pick 119: DT T’Vondre Sweat, Texas
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Sweat’s DWI may see him fall from his projected late second-round-mid third-round projection. And man, if he is there at 119, sprint to the podium. He’s basically a much more athletic Casey Hampton- the dude is a freak. He’ll only be a two-down guy, but the impact he’ll have as a run defender next to Keeanu Benton is making me blush just thinking of it.
Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
The Steelers have little depth behind Elandon Roberts and Patrick Queen as it currently stands. Cole Holcomb’s return date is up in the air, and Myles Jack and Kwon Alexander are free agents. Mark Robinson is the only other guy at that spot on the roster. Liufau’s best attribute is his ability in coverage. In today’s NFL, the middle of the field is the most important part of the field, and you can never have too many guys who can take that away from offenses.
Round 6, Pick 178: RB Kimani Vidal, Troy
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There is a world where the Steelers lose Najee Harris or Jaylen Warren over the next one-two years. Vidal was very productive at Troy, rushing for over 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023 on nearly six yards per carry. It wouldn’t hurt having him as the third back in the offense to potentially groom as a future second option on the depth chart.
The LSU wideout is a bit of a one-trick pony — but it’s a good trick.
Approaching the 2024 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.
One of the most popular first-round selections for the Steelers in expert mock drafts, LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. is a name to watch as the 2024 NFL Draft draws closer.
Brian Thomas Jr.’s 2023 stats at LSU are straight out of Madden — over a thousand receiving yards, 17.3 yards per catch, and a whopping 17 touchdowns. He got there by emerging as college football’s premier deep threat last season. Despite being a larger receiver at 6’3, 209 pounds, Thomas runs a 4.33-second 40-yard dash — and that couldn’t be more obvious on his vertical routes. Thomas’ pure speed and acceleration are among the best in this year’s class. In every game I watched of his, there was at least one instance when he toasted a defensive back for a massive gain.
Brian Thomas Jr. should not be running away from DBs this easily at 6’3, 209 lol pic.twitter.com/iNX7CTeQa4
I can’t stress enough just how common of an occurrence this was on Thomas’ tape without simply embedding his 2023 highlight reel. The way he throttles up effortlessly at the line of scrimmage is a joy to watch. Thomas can really take the top off the defense.
The reason why I hammer this point so much is because it’s the main reason why Thomas is considered a first-round pick, and understandably so — but the rest of his game is not anywhere as exciting.
For one, despite having a massive, promising frame for a wide receiver, Thomas’ contested catch game is rather subpar. He’s excellent at tracking the deep ball, but he prefers to body catch, having issues with more difficult grabs, even if they hit him right in the hands.
The drops I’ve compiled in the cut-up below aren’t exactly routine catches, but you’d hope that a receiver of Thomas’ caliber would have the concentration to haul more of them in. It was a common issue on tape.
That isn’t to say it was all bad. Thomas has the build to be a 50/50 ball machine if he continues to develop, and there were flashes of it from time to time at LSU. You’ll see this as a common theme in this draft report: if Thomas can become a more complete receiver, he has all the tools to be a star WR1 in the pros.
Thomas’ route tree will be another issue for him as he transitions to the NFL. We’ve already established he’s an elite, polished route-runner when going deep, with a good understanding of slightly slowing down before turning on the burners to leave defensive backs in the dust. However, those deep routes, along with some shallow curls, were about the extent of Thomas’ route tree at LSU.
The curls weren’t exactly anything to write home about. They resulted in yards, but Thomas didn’t have to run them with much urgency as he often had a massive cushion to exploit. Plays like the one below can be found in every one of the games I watched. Again, they’re not bad routes, just not the most exciting in terms of NFL potential.
And while he did have some good reps as a blocker, more often than not he left something to be desired. Just a little bit of effort in the play below (and the running back not getting hurt) could’ve resulted in a much bigger gain.
Thomas is hardly lethargic as an overall player, though. He’s a smooth runner with long strides who doesn’t always look like he’s moving as fast as he is, but he still shows a lot of potential in terms of his change of direction. Thomas had some great yards after catch at LSU, with moves you shouldn’t be seeing from a receiver his size.
In short, the potential is off the charts with Thomas. If he develops, he’ll be something special, and even as a rookie he’ll be an immediate contributor as a dangerous vertical threat.
Strengths
Uncanny speed, acceleration for size
Superb vertical route-running, ball tracking
Flashes of excellent stop-start ability
NFL-ready frame, potential to be a more physical receiver
Every NFL team is looking for their own version of a tall, down-the-field, deep threat. Thomas fits the mold of what teams want, though his physicality at the top and bottom of the route leaves something to be desired. Thomas is going to walk into the NFL on day one as a starting receiver and force teams to pay attention to his deep speed and ability to take the top off their defense. Should Thomas add some muscle to his frame and become a more physical player, he could become a top receiver in the league.
Thomas’s athletic profile is one of the most intriguing in this entire draft class, let alone at just the wide receiver position. He’s a tantalizing jump ball and/or deep threat, as he boasts good length blended with good timing on his leaps… Thomas, in my estimation, is in the same general bucket as [Keon] Coleman. Both players boast very intriguing athletic profiles and can attack defenses in similar fashions early on. They’re also young and are brimming with upside, making them ideal developmental receivers for a team looking to solve for “X” in their offense.
If you had to sum up Thomas Jr.’s game with one word, it would be “smooth.” Despite measuring in at almost 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds at the Combine, he is as effortless a mover on the football field as you will ever see… Even though there already is a lot to like about Thomas Jr. entering the NFL, he has plenty of room for growth. His route tree in particular has room to grow a few branches, as noted above, and as those get added he should develop into a true three-down threat at the X-receiver spot. Think of his growth potential as similar to current Seattle Seahawkswideout DK Metcalf, who also had limited routes in his toolbox but was steadily and patiently developed to become a top-tier wideout.
Thomas profiles very similarly to Texas’ Adonai Mitchell, a slightly more polished, but less productive and slightly slower play speed-wise receiver Pittsburgh has shown some pre-draft interest in. Both would give the Steelers an instant WR2 next to George Pickens with sky-high upside.
However, Thomas would simply give the Steelers another big-play threat on the outside — not a bad thing by any means, but Pittsburgh would still be lacking the proven, chain-moving presence on short and intermediate routes that Diontae Johnson provided. An offense with Russell Wilson slinging deep balls to Pickens and Thomas would be a fun thing to watch, but the Steelers would still be left with a lot of question marks — not just at wide receiver, but also without a first round pick on the offensive line. Thomas could be a great selection at No. 20 for the black and gold, but he’d be a risky one.
TL;DR: Brian Thomas Jr. is a tall, blazing fast deep threat with the frame and tools to be an all-around elite X receiver. However, he still has a long way to go before he becomes a complete player.
What are your thoughts on LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!
Could the best name in the 2024 NFL Draft find his way to Pittsburgh?
Approaching the 2024 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.
Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry remains one of the least talked about, but highly likely first-round options for the Steelers in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Alabama corner Kool-Aid McKinstry plays an aggressive, sticky brand of man coverage that should be immediately appealing to any NFL franchise looking for help on the boundary. He’s a strong, physical presence in coverage with good size who bullies receivers towards the sideline, but still has the baseline athleticism to keep up (boundary cornerback, No. 1 in all clips).
Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry is aggressive and sticky in coverage. Will be a great, physical NFL boundary CB if he doesn’t draw too many flags pic.twitter.com/TysDWDjIFR
It should be immediately obvious in the play above, but McKinstry’s style of play often walks the line between legal and flag-worthy. Later in that same game against Texas, he had back-to-back plays that resulted in penalties at the end of the first half.
But unlike most corners with a penchant for flags, McKinstry’s ball skills are far from terrible. In zone coverage, he’s hyper aware of the quarterback’s eyes with great drive on the ball. Man coverage is his specialty, but McKinstry is still a smooth, starting-caliber defender when he’s put in zone.
Those talents show up in man coverage as well. McKinstry accelerates in a hurry when the ball is in the air. However, his go-to move continues to be an aggressive bat of the football instead of an attempt to pick it off. McKinstry is a pass deflection machine but not a ball hawk, with only two career college interceptions.
McKinstry’s athleticism is the main reason why he isn’t a projected top-10 pick in the upcoming draft. It’s certainly up to par of a starting-caliber NFL cornerback, but he lacks the top-end agility and speed of a truly elite prospect. But to alleviate any major concerns, here he is covering LSU wideout Malik Nabers, who is considered a top-10 pick, on a downfield route and holding his own, although there is some hand-tugging.
On an island, McKinstry can struggle with quicker receivers. But he has urgent footwork and works hard to not get beat, eating up created separation and sticking around to make tackles.
His aggressiveness and lack of top-end change of direction does leave him a little sucseptible to double moves. Here, he gets bailed out thanks to a poor throw, but that won’t happen as often in the NFL.
The other main issues that often show up in draft profiles about McKinstry are occasional lapses in effort when the play is going away from him, as well as his passable but far from great play in run support. In the games I watched, I thought those concerns were a little overstated — if anything, I was impressed by McKinstry’s tenacity in man coverage.
Against the run, McKinstry gets the job done, but he doesn’t go out of his way to take down runners. I thought the play below against LSU illustrated this well, with McKinstry immediately slowing down once Jayden Daniels was no longer running his way. It’s not a horrible play, but there are certainly prospects who would’ve shown more effort.
McKinstry has been dealing with a Jones fracture in his foot during the draft cycle, but still managed to run a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at his pro day despite not being 100-percent. He’s not a perfect prospect, but McKinstry has good-to-great tape (I didn’t show many clips from his Georgia game because the offense ran plays away from him) and above-the-line athleticism. In a scheme that maximizes his press-man talents, he’ll be a quality NFL defender for a long time.
Three-year starter and former five-star prospect with a quirky name and consistent game. McKinstry is patient and well-groomed in matching the outside release and riding the inside release from press. He’s confident to handle business on an island and is able to stay in phase as the route travels vertically. He’s not overly fast but does play with plus acceleration to close out crossing routes or make aggressive plays on the catch point. As with most college corners, McKinstry will need to transition some of his open-field hand usage into quality footwork to avoid downfield penalties. He’s more aggressive in coverage than he is as a tackler and could find himself forced to prove his toughness in that area. McKinstry is more of a pure cover man than a playmaker, but his poise, intelligence and athleticism should lead him toward becoming a good outside corner with scheme versatility.
McKinstry projects as a starting outside cornerback in the NFL, with the versatility to play in most defenses. He has the athletic traits to play in man coverage schemes as well as the communication skills, discipline, and closing speed necessary to play in zone schemes… McKinstry isn’t a truly “elite” athlete, though he’s close, and might not have the upside to be a true “shutdown” or “number one” corner for an aggressive defense… Coaches will likely want to see McKinstry play with more fire and aggression on the back side of plays, but he’s certainly willing and aggressive when the ball comes his way.
Kool-Aid McKinstry has a similar style and build to cornerback A.J. Terrell… Both McKinstry and Terrell possess long arms that make them pesky in press coverage, but their lack of elite athleticism can show up when playing off. However, they do a good job of masking their athletic limitations with superior on-field intelligence, and discipline.
McKinstry’s athletic profile may not be quite as impressive as you’d hope for a former five-star recruit, but he’s still more than capable of being an elite NFL CB2 on the boundary, with some real CB1 potential. That would be the exact role the Steelers would be hoping McKinstry could fill alongside Joey Porter Jr. in the Pittsburgh secondary.
In fact, McKinstry profiles very similarly to Porter Jr. in many ways, as a long-armed, physical press-man corner with some penalty issues and good-not-great athleticism. Both even lacked interception numbers in college. Despite not having an official visit with the Steelers like Porter Jr., McKinstry did have a pro day dinner with the team’s brass.
The Steelers could have better options than McKinstry at pick No. 20 — especially on the offensive line — but depending on how the board falls, he could be a strong selection for the team. Paired with Porter Jr., McKinstry would help the Steelers establish a physical, tone-setting secondary that could be one of the best in the NFL.
TL;DR — Kool-Aid McKinstry’s brand of physical, press-man coverage is among the best in this year’s draft class. His aggressive style of play and lack of elite athleticism can be an issue, but he projects as one of the league’s best CB2s if he lands in the right system.
What are your thoughts on Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!
Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
Could the star Washington tackle be the answer for the Steelers at tackle… or even center?
Approaching the 2024 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll breakdown the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.
Washington’s Troy Fautanu is one of the best offensive linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he’s also among the most polarizing. He’s projected to be a starting-caliber player at tackle, guard, or even center depending on who you ask.
The basics on Troy Fautanu
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt senior (Washington)
Size: 6’4, 317 pounds
Age: 23 years old
Projected draft round: Round 1
Troy Fautanu scouting report
If there’s one positive everyone can agree on regarding Troy Fautanu’s game, it’s his athleticism. The Washington tackle’s lateral mobility pops off the screen (left tackle, No. 55 in all clips).
And here’s Fautanu pulling. He’s a tremendously fluid athlete for his size, which really opens up his usage in the run game. And unlike some linemen who do a great job of getting from point A to point B but don’t do much once they get there, Fautanu actually connects on blocks in space.
Troy Fautanu’s athleticism and ability to block in space are going to make the team that drafts him very happy pic.twitter.com/fJpXRbc2y0
Fautanu’s length has been the subject of controversy this draft cycle. Onscreen, he appears to have a squatty build for an offensive lineman, almost like a center (more on that later), with shorter arms. There’s evidence for it on tape, as Fautanu can have problems sustaining blocks on the edge.
However, the Washington tackle’s arms measured at 34.5 inches at the NFL Combine, clearing the unofficial accepted minimum for NFL offensive tackles. Formerly seen as a prospect who would have to switch to the interior, now his passable measurables and clear athleticism make him an intriguing option at tackle.
Still, length isn’t the only potential flaw in Fautanu’s game. I never saw him get embarrassingly driven back into the quarterback, but I did notice he wasn’t always a stone wall against pass-rushes in the same way some of the better tackles are in this year’s class. Fautanu generally finds his anchor later in the play, often getting jolted back initially.
There were highlights, though. Fautanu has a knack for viciously chopping down unsuspecting speed rushers, resulting in a number of plays like the one below.
While Fautanu is a good run blocker, I wouldn’t place him in the road grader category. Besides combo blocks, in the games I watched I didn’t find many instances of him really driving defenders back in the run game. However, Fautanu has a superb understanding of leverage and angles, often subtly turning defenders to clear rushing lanes.
I don’t want to paint Fautanu as a passive figure in the run game, though. He’s anything but. While I wanted to see some more power from him against bigger linemen, Fautanu did have his share of impact blocks against smaller rushers, showing his nasty demeanor as a blocker. In the clip below you can also see Fautanu’s habit of grabbing and pulling defenders, a technique he gets away with a lot, but not always.
He’s aggressive, which is good, but it can get the best of him at times. Fautanu can occasionally put his head down and lean too much into blocks, quickly getting off balance and losing the rep.
Still, his recovery athleticism is something special. There were multiple instances on tape where Fautanu got spun around but was still able to reconnect on his block.
I’ll be honest — while I was wowed by Fautanu’s athleticism, I was still left wanting a bit more in terms of his physicality. When looking at future NFL tackle prospects, you want an imposing lineman who can bulldoze at the line of scrimmage. Fautanu, although a hard-nosed, high-effort player, didn’t offer much of that. And while his arm length checks out, there’s no denying that the length concerns still do pop up on tape from time to time. A good scheme fit and coaching could result in Fautanu’s athletic skillset landing him a starting job at tackle, but as of right now, his best fit still seems to be on the inside at the NFL level.
Strengths
Extremely versatile, could be a fit at all five offensive line positions
Well-built blocker with an exceptional mix of natural leverage and proportional length… Unnaturally elastic, energetic athlete with snappy hip flexibility and corrective mobility… Knows how to use his base alignment to funnel rushers into areas they can be corralled… Explosive capacity off the snap might be a notch below the elite mark… Hands don’t always carry elite knock-back force, sometimes failing to jar opponents… At times, can be a tick late recorrecting outside when blitz threats inside draw attention.
Fautanu is one of the best athletes in this offensive line class. His flexibility, agility and coordination could allow him to play meaningful reps at all five offensive line spots, but his long-term home is likely at guard or center. He has fast hands for flashes, repositioning and first contact. He also has a motor that never quits and looks to finish defenders whenever he can. Fautanu’s aggressiveness is good to see, but it can get him in trouble. He tends to overextend when punching and oversetting in pass protection. His power profile is good only when he has momentum. His lack of lower-half weight shows up when he is asked to anchor.
Overall, Fautanu is a twitched-up, explosive blocker with excellent length and a tone-setting demeanor who projects best inside at guard with tackle versatility in his back pocket. His tools and skill set should land him a starting job right away, and he has Pro Bowl potential within his first contract as he settles into a full-time role inside… GRADE: 8.3 (Year 1 Starter — Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round)… PRO COMPARISON: Ali Marpet.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah stated that there’s at least one team that sees Fautanu as not only a versatile option for all five offensive line positions, but the best overall center in this year’s draft class.
Center?
And could that team be the Steelers? Fautanu played some guard at Washington despite primarily being a left tackle, but he never spent time at center. Still, with his build and strong athleticism. Fautanu would give the Steelers a presence they haven’t had in the middle of their offensive line since Maurkice Pouncey. And Pittsburgh did spend a top-30 visit on Fautanu.
However, left tackle to center is a substantial position switch, and one that involves snapping the ball every play. While it would offer some answers to a few of the negatives on Fautanu’s draft profile, he could still struggle against the massive, powerful interior linemen at the NFL level. Besides, the Fautanu-at-center experiment would likely cost a first round pick to try.
I’ve already mentioned my concerns with Fautanu at tackle. He could be a good option there in the pros, but once again, the Steelers would be spending a first-rounder on a question mark. Still, when that question mark is perhaps the most athletic lineman in the draft, you can bet Pittsburgh is considering it.
TL;DR: Troy Fautanu is an absurdly athletic offensive tackle who might slide inside to guard or center at the NFL level. He’s experienced, versatile, and aggressive in the run and pass game who doesn’t overly impress with power, but gets the job done.
What are your thoughts on Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!
Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK
Too many teams; not enough QBs…
The 2024 NFL Draft is set to start Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET.
To some, it’s fascinating to watch in real-time as teams pick future millionaire athletes the same way little Johnny and Billy picked players for kickball teams at recess in elementary school. For those who do enjoy watching the show, nothing kills the buzz of the event quite like things going exactly as planned.
There were glorious times when the Steelers held the last pick of the first round by winning the Super Bowl and you could just ignore the TV for several hours while all the wannabes made their picks. The Steelers haven’t had that honor in quite some time. Lately, it’s usually been a pick in the 18-22 range which still allowed for skipping a couple of hours of less interesting proceedings as Roger Goodell announced player after player going to some other franchise.
We can no longer ignore the draft like we used to be able to, as the Steelers have traded up in the first round twice in the last five years. The timing of the first-round selection has become unpredictable. I remember my eyelids getting heavy while reading news stories on my phone in 2019 with the draft on the TV, when I was startled to hear, “We have a trade. The Pittsburgh Steelers will be drafting 10th after a trade with the Denver Broncos.”
I sat up straight and got focused. I didn’t know what to expect. The Steelers hadn’t traded up in the first round in 13 years, and perhaps that night they shouldn’t have either. In need of a linebacker, they drafted a linebacker. Unfortunately, Devin Bush didn’t prove to be worth trading up for at all.
Larry McCormack / The Tennessean
Bring on the 2024 NFL Draft chaos
Enough of the trip down memory lane. Will we see any excitement in this year’s draft? The Steelers have a handful of positions they could use pick No. 20 on, if they choose to stay put. The wait to get there could be entertaining though. There’s a big game of quarterback draft musical chairs that’s going to unfold on Thursday.
In musical chairs, there was always one less seat than there were players trying to sit. In this year’s draft, there’s a shortage of first-round quarterbacks compared to the number of teams needing one. It is almost a consensus among the draft gurus that Chicago, Washington, and New England will start the draft by picking some combination of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels. Those same gurus consider the next wave to be JJ McCarthy, then Michael Penix or Bo Nix before a big drop-off to a third wave made up of purely developmental prospects.
Three teams, who happen to draft one after the other, have a solid need at the position for this second wave. Minnesota holds pick No. 11 (and pick No. 23) and has journeyman Sam Darnold. Denver at pick No. 12 has journeyman Jarrett Stidham. Las Vegas at pick No. 13 has journeyman Gardner Minshew. With McCarthy as the prize, it’s a three-team musical chair game… or is it?
The New York Giants are the wild card that could ignite some early draft fireworks by becoming a fourth team in the musical chair game. They have Daniel Jones as their starting quarterback, but they desire something else for the position and hold pick No. 6.
Before signing with the Steelers, Russell Wilson visited with the Giants. The fact that the Giants took that visit certainly wasn’t a vote of confidence for Jones, or at the very least, indicative of their faith in his health coming off a torn ACL suffered last season. Since that time the Giants have used one of their 30 pre-draft visits on each of the quarterbacks from the top two waves except Caleb Williams. They have also used one on Spencer Rattler in that third tier. They had Maye and McCarthy in for private workouts and attended the Pro Days of Penix and Daniels. It appears they are willing to use No. 6 on a quarterback, if the right one is available. Sitting within striking distance, they could even consider trading up from there to get their favorite if they find a partner.
How the Giants could affect the Steelers’ draft
Should the Giants pull the trigger on a quarterback, it’s highly probable that it has a chain reaction effect on Minnesota, Denver and Las Vegas. A second game of quarterback musical chairs would inevitably begin with three teams vying for only two quarterbacks. As the Steelers aren’t targeting a quarterback this year, the more of them that are drafted ahead of pick No. 20 means more quality players at other positions would still be on the board for them.
A month ago, most draft analysts had four quarterbacks going in the first round, with Nix and Penix not making the grade. If the Giants throw the chaos grenade into the mix, the three teams that miss out on the top four quarterbacks can’t sit patiently and assume they will get one in the second round. Should five get drafted before the Steelers’ slot, there would now be a better chance that one of the two teams still looking may trade back up into the first round to secure the last of Nix/Penix.
Suppose the Vikings don’t have a quarterback by the time pick No. 20 rolls around. In that case, someone may be willing to trade up with the Steelers to keep Minnesota from getting the last one at No. 23. More likely would be a trade up to No. 22, but the higher probability of a QB being selected at 22 or 23 would factor favorably into any trade down decision for the Steelers. For instance, if the Steelers have a tentative trade down to No. 28 worked out, the likely selection of a quarterback drafted at 22 or 23 increases their chances of having a beloved prospect getting pushed down to them.
Even though the Steelers don’t have interest in a first-round quarterback, their overall draft positions will still have an effect on the Black and Gold. Steelers fans should be all-in on the Giants to draft a quarterback to and start the musical chairs games, as it could be to Pittsburgh’s benefit… and even if not, it’s still more interesting than watching everything go as planned.
