The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into a season with plenty of change and intriguing storylines. There is a new head coach and brand new staff, young players who are looking to break out, contract extensions, and position battles. July and August’s upcoming training camp will have many answers to questions that fans and pundits have been longing for all offseason to answer. One of those areas is on the offensive line. During the spring's offseason activities, it was revealed that Pittsburgh would be moving its right guard and tackle to the left side. Those players are Mason McCormick and Troy Fautanu.
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Mason McCormick reacts as he takes the field for the Steelers before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium.
These changes are in an effort to keep such a dynamic tackle-guard combination together, but also to fortify a left side that lost Pro Bowl guard Isaac Seumalo in free agency. The Black and Gold's offensive line shifting presents new challenges, though.
The two must acclimate to slightly new positions, and that also brings some key decisions regarding who will start on the right side in their place. This has been an ongoing discussion and one that will be answered before the regular season, but there are multiple suitors for both spots.
This change to the left side will be in hopes of better protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers' blindside. Rodgers, a right-handed thrower, will have to hope that his left tackle will protect him better than in 2025. It’s one of the reasons that the up-and-coming Fautanu will be placed there. On the North Shore Drive podcast, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ray Fittipaldo and Christopher Carter discussed the lineman that will be most important to the offense's success: Fautanu.
"He's got to protect Aaron Rodgers' blindside, and that was a big issue for the Steelers last season, especially early. I think because Broderick Jones wasn't up to the task, they had to kind of adapt their offense,” Fittipaldo said. “You know, they got the ball out quicker, and I think if Fautanu is better, Aaron Rodgers can hold the ball longer; I think that's going to mean better things for the offense. I think that's going to be more balls deep down the field, more balls to the intermediate portions of the game rather than the dink and dunk.”
Fautanu's continued growth will be the key to the Steelers' offensive line. He's no stranger to playing on the left; he played there primarily while in college, but the change is still something to watch. The 25-year-old played all 17 games at right tackle in 2025 after missing all but one game in his rookie campaign.
He has lived up to his first-round pick status thus far, but flipping to the left not only will show his versatility, but could give Pittsburgh a long-term answer as the blindside blocker for years to come.
The 2025 offense relied heavily on short-yardage plays, like dump-offs to a running back or throws that didn't go beyond the chains. The team's leader in receptions was a running back, which isn't a good look in a unit that is trying to make a splash.
With a new offensive coordinator, an offense-minded head coach, and added skill players, the group needs to create more explosive plays. One of the factors of this lies in giving more time to Rodgers, which was an issue at times, but Fautanu's switch to the left should provide stability if he continues to get better.
Steelers' Fautanu Needs To Have A Huge Year
Not only will he be at a new position, but expectations are much greater for him this year, as his ability to hold off opposing pass rushers will be a determinant in the effectiveness of the offense. Pittsburgh hasn't had an elite left tackle in years, and Fautanu taking that step will be huge. If he can become one of the league's best, he could be in for a payday when extension talks begin after this season.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' offensive tackle Troy Fautanu driving blocking sled during day one of minicamp on June 2, 2026.
This will be a tall task for Fautanu, but one that could propel his career. A lot is riding on him, but if he can thrive through adversity, both he and Pittsburgh will prove to be in good places. The young offensive line will be one of the groups to keep an eye on through training camp and the season; the Black and Gold have invested a lot of draft capital there and need them to flourish.
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