Steelers May Have Made A Tremendous Mistake On The Offensive Line

The Pittsburgh Steelers have invested quite a lot in their offensive line over the past few seasons. 2024 was no exception when University of Washington tackle Troy Fautanu was drafted 20th overall. Fautanu missed all but one game of his rookie year, which many feared could stunt his growth heading into 2025, but the then-second-year tackle started all 17 games for the Steelers. He held his own and proved that he could be a starter, which is a good thing, considering such a premium pick was used on him. 

With one full season now under Fautanu's belt, he'll have a chance to build off of his skills from 2025. However, this time will be from the left tackle spot. Fautanu spent his initial time in Pittsburgh on the right side of the line, but after some personnel changes, the new coaching staff decided that Fautanu and right guard Mason McCormick would move from the right side to the left. Though changing sides isn't usually a catastrophic idea, it does bring some different strategies to the table. 

Fautanu spent the early parts of the offseason on the left side, so he can get acclimated there. Now that training camp has begun, Fautanu can get an extended look at left tackle. He played on the left a lot in college, so it shouldn't be super new to him. However, SteelerNation's Brandon Wallace reported from camp that Fautanu has been making some crucial errors, including multiple false starts. 

This isn't a great sign, considering Fautanu is considered one of the cornerstones of the young offensive line group. He'll have to clean up penalties because the Steelers are relying on him to protect his quarterback's blindside. Fautanu switching sides didn't seem all that surprising at the time, but if this problem continues, it could be something that could be addressed by switching combinations up front. Now that drastic of a change coming this late in the summer may not be likely, but this penalty issue is something unexpected from the third-year tackle. 

Penalties weren't an issue whatsoever for Fautanu in 2025; he had three all year. That's below average for a typical tackle, and only one of his penalties was a false start. This isn’t like him and hopefully it isn't a trend moving forward. The offensive line is under some pressure as there will likely be two new starters on the right side, so the left side needs to be solidified. With the tandem of Fautanu and McCormick sticking together, should all things go well, the left side is a strong point, but there's not much room for error with these established starters. 

Steelers Will Have To Figure Out The Right Side

Training camp is full of fun position battles, including that right side of the offensive line. Tackle Dylan Cook, who started a few games at left tackle in 2025, looks to be the frontrunner at right tackle. He'll look to continue his stellar play, which came as a surprise to many. However, one of the biggest competitions in all of camp is who will start at right guard. Right now, it looks to be a battle between free agent addition Brock Hoffman and veteran Spencer Anderson. 

Hoffman, who has played center and guard in the past, has proven he is a solid depth piece and a capable starter when called upon. If he doesn't end up starting, he'll at least likely be high-quality depth. Anderson, who is entering his fourth season with the Black and Gold, is looking to find a permanent starting role on the line. Anderson spent his first three years playing a versatile role and was extremely effective as an extra lineman. This showdown will be an intriguing watch. 

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