Steelers' Young Offensive Tackle Already Considered Team’s Best Lineman Entering 2025

When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Troy Fautanu with the 20th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, they were expecting to have their right offensive tackle spot anchored down for the foreseeable future. However, Fautanu's rookie season was cut short due to a knee injury suffered in practice. He was placed on injured reserve on September 21st, 2024 after playing just over 50 snaps for Pittsburgh. Despite this injury keeping the young tackle sidelined for a large majority of his rookie year, Steelers insiders have not been shy to sing the praises of Fautanu as he prepares for his sophomore campaign. 

On the #1 Cochran Sports Show on CBS Pittsburgh, Steelers insiders Mark Kaboly and Ray Fittipaldo agreed that expectations are at an-all time high for the second-year lineman. Kaboly, who attended all six OTA (Organized Team Activities) practices that the Steelers have held was the first to sing the praises of the former first-round pick. 

“I mean if there was a such thing as Player of the Year on the offensive line, it's going to be him for the Steelers…” Kaboly said. "I'm not worried about him, he's going to be a star.”

Good news for Fautanu, there is an award for offensive lineman being introduced for the 2025 season. The Protector of The Year Award will be given out to the NFL's best offensive lineman. Kaboly's claim is very strong, and coming from someone who has seen everything that Fautanu has been able to do so far to come back from his injury and play a crucial role in this offense, this shouldn't be taken lightly. 

Kaboly was not the only one to express their extreme praise for the young tackle on the #1 Cochran Sports Show. Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo backed up Kaboly's claims and even went as far as to say that Fautanu was and will continue to be the Steelers' best offensive lineman. 

“Yeah, listen Troy Fautanu, who was their best lineman when he got hurt last year, he's going to be their best lineman if he's healthy,” said Fittipaldo.

While Fautanu played sparingly over his first year, he was able to impress Steelers media in a big way. For Fittipaldo to say that he was the Steelers' best lineman last year, and will continue to be, shows the amount of confidence that these insiders have for Fautanu. Fans will finally get to see a fully healthy Fautanu in a full-time starter role at the beginning of the 2025 season. 

Steelers' Offensive Line In 2025 Is The Key To Success

The Steelers' offensive line has been under a complete rebuild over the last few seasons. However, in 2025, we might see all of the growing pains pay off for this unit. Third-year tackle Broderick Jones is making the switch to left tackle this season, the position he played during his time in college at Georgia. The expectation remains that Fautanu will continue to play right tackle, as he has practiced at that spot since being drafted. Second-year linemen Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier are looking to build off their stellar rookie campaigns and establish themselves as centerpieces in a very young Steelers offensive line. Isaac Seumalo is the veteran of the group who is also coming off a solid season after signing with Pittsburgh back in 2023.

With a new quarterback in Aaron Rodgers to protect, and a new rookie running back in Kaleb Johnson set to be heavily involved in the run game this season, there will no doubt be lots of adjusting to do for this offensive line. The Steelers are hopeful that the investments they have made in the line over the last few years will pay off this season. They should be able to protect their veteran quarterback and create holes for their rookie running back to showcase their dynamic playmaking abilities. Steelers fans should be excited to hear the positive reports about Fautanu out of OTAs and to watch the offensive line gel together for the upcoming 2025 season.

#SteelerNation